Fadeaway
Maura Ellen Stokes
Fadeaway
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Maura Ellen Stokes
The text is written at a 6th 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
The sharp scent of rain fills the air as Sam hears a familiar laugh echoing down the empty hallways. Her heart races with hope and fear because Reagan, her best friend who passed away, might be back—but is it real, or just a whisper from the past? Holding on feels like both comfort and heartbreak all at once.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Fadeaway explores the emotional journey of a fourteen-year-old girl coping with the sudden loss of her best friend just before high school. This middle-grade novel sensitively addresses themes of grief and friendship, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the story deals with death and emotional challenges but handles them in an age-appropriate way.
Why we rated Fadeaway 11ME
Fadeaway is written at a Level 6 reading level across 291 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Fadeaway works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Fadeaway as 11ME ("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, Fadeaway explores grief, best friends, high schools, coming of age, 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 grief, best friends, high schools.
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
11ME — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781499806748
- Pages
- 291
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction