F*ckface
Leah Hampton
F*ckface
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
And Other Stories
by Leah Hampton
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 intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
This book tells surprising stories from a small town where honeybees are disappearing and secrets hide behind every corner. Some stories make you laugh, some make you think, and some show how people and nature are connected in ways you never expected. These tales reveal why life in a changing place like Appalachia matters to us all.
Themes
Quick Assessment
F*ckface is a collection of twelve short stories set in post-coal Appalachia, exploring complex themes like environmental change, family struggles, and personal growth. The stories contain mature content including references to death, substance use, and intimate relationships, making it suitable for older middle grade readers with parental guidance. The book offers a nuanced and heartfelt portrayal of rural life and its challenges.
Why we rated F*ckface 11IE
F*ckface 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, F*ckface works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate F*ckface as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mature Themes, Substance Use, Death, Sexual Content.
Thematically, F*ckface explores small town & rural, literary, family, environmental awareness, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about small town & rural, literary, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
- 9781250259592
- Pages
- 208
- Publisher
- Henry Holt and Company
- Published
- Jul 14, 2020
- Type
- Fiction