Don't forget me
Victoria Stevens
Don't forget me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Victoria Stevens
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Hazel Clarke’s life is turned upside down when she has to leave her mom, who’s battling Alzheimer’s, behind in England and start fresh with a dad she’s never met—all the way in Australia. But when she meets Red and the quiet Luca, friendship shows her that even the hardest changes can lead to new hope and family. This story proves that sometimes, love and honesty can heal the deepest wounds.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows seventeen-year-old Hazel as she copes with her mother’s early-onset Alzheimer's and adjusts to a new life in Australia with her estranged father. The story sensitively handles themes of grief, family dynamics, and friendship, offering a thoughtful exploration suitable for ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the emotional content related to illness and family separation, which is addressed with care.
Why we rated Don't forget me 12ME
Don't forget me is written at a Level 7 reading level across 360 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Don't forget me works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Don't forget me as 12ME ("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 — 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, Don't forget me explores grief, family, friendship, alzheimer's disease, 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 grief, family, friendship.
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
12ME — 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
- 9780374305604
- Pages
- 360
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction