Fade-Outs (Optima Large Print Books)
Robert Colby, Phil Garrison, Robert Middleton
Fade-Outs (Optima Large Print Books)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robert Colby, Phil Garrison, Robert Middleton
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
This book flips the script on what you think you know about fading away — not just on stage, but in life. Characters face moments where disappearing feels like the only option, but those choices reveal powerful truths. What happens when stepping back is actually the biggest step forward?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Fade-Outs is a young adult fiction novel suitable for readers aged 13 to 18, with a reading level around grade 4.5. It explores themes of identity, choice, and personal growth through relatable characters navigating complex emotions. Parents should note the book deals with moments of emotional challenge but presents them in an accessible and thoughtful way.
Why we rated Fade-Outs (Optima Large Print Books) 9LE
Fade-Outs (Optima Large Print Books) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 135 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Fade-Outs (Optima Large Print Books) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Fade-Outs (Optima Large Print Books) as 9LE ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Identity & Self-Discovery.
Thematically, Fade-Outs (Optima Large Print Books) explores coming of age, identity & self-discovery, and emotional growth — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, identity & self-discovery, emotional growth.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780822433361
- Pages
- 135
- Publisher
- Lake Publishing Company
- Published
- March 1989
- Type
- Fiction