What reading level is Confessions of a Closet Catholic?

Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Confessions of a Closet Catholic appropriate for?

Confessions of a Closet Catholic is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Confessions of a Closet Catholic?

Confessions of a Closet Catholic is fiction.

Does Confessions of a Closet Catholic have any content warnings?

Confessions of a Closet Catholic has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Confessions of a Closet Catholic?

Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman is 208 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Confessions of a Closet Catholic

Sarah Darer Littman

Confessions of a Closet Catholic

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sarah Darer Littman

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

Sidney Taylor Book Award

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

The soft rustle of leaves outside blends with the quiet whispers of a secret closet confessional. Justine, clutching her teddy bear Father Ted, wrestles with big questions about faith and friendship while the scent of her Bubbe’s kitchen lingers in the air. As her world shifts, she learns that sometimes the strongest faith is the one you find inside yourself.

Themes

IdentityFamilyFaithComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the journey of an eleven-year-old Jewish girl grappling with her religious identity and personal beliefs, especially as her grandmother suffers a stroke. It sensitively addresses themes of faith, family, and self-discovery appropriate for ages 9-12, with no intense content. Parents can expect a heartwarming story about cultural and spiritual exploration that encourages empathy and understanding.

Why we rated Confessions of a Closet Catholic 11ME

Confessions of a Closet Catholic is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Confessions of a Closet Catholic works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Confessions of a Closet Catholic as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — 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 mild intensity score.

Thematically, Confessions of a Closet Catholic explores identity, family, faith, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 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 identity, family, faith.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Confessions of a Closet Catholic carries an award.