Doing my own thing
Nikki Carter
Doing my own thing
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a Fab life novel
by Nikki Carter
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.
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About This Book
The beat of the music pulses through the air, filling Sunday Tolliver's world with energy and dreams. But fame isn’t just bright lights and applause; it’s whispers, secrets, and challenges that test who you really are. Can Sunday stay true to herself when everyone around her plays a different tune?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Sunday Tolliver, a talented African American singer navigating the highs and lows of newfound fame. The story explores themes of family dynamics, friendship, and the complexities of success, with some mild tension related to rivalry and reputation. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an engaging look at self-discovery within a realistic fiction setting.
Why we rated Doing my own thing 11LE
Doing my own thing is written at a Level 6 reading level across 277 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Doing my own thing works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Doing my own thing as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Doing my own thing explores african american women singers, reality television programs, success, family, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about african american women singers, reality television programs, success.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780758255587
- Pages
- 277
- Publisher
- National Geographic Books
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction