Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Come November
Katrin van Dam
Come November
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Katrin van Dam
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What would you do if your whole world started to crumble just when you needed it most? Rooney Harris is juggling all the pressures of senior year, but her mom’s deep dive into a mysterious cult called the Next World Society turns everything upside down. Can Rooney protect her little brother and find a way out before November 17 changes everything?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Come November follows Rooney Harris, a high school senior who suddenly finds herself responsible for her younger brother as their mother becomes consumed by a cult's apocalyptic beliefs. This young adult novel touches on themes of family dysfunction, cult influence, and the challenges of adolescence. Appropriate for teens 13 and older, the story explores emotional struggles and family dynamics without graphic content.
Why we rated Come November 8ME
Come November is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 650L across 373 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Come November works for readers up to grade 5.5.
We rate Come November as 8ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Come November explores cult influence, family, coming of age, young adult fiction, and sibling relationships — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about cult influence, family, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781338268423
- Pages
- 373
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 650L