Fig
Sarah Elizabeth Schantz
Fig
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Elizabeth Schantz
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
What happens when you try to save someone you love but feel yourself slipping away? Fig’s world is filled with love, secrets, and tough moments as she watches her mom struggle with something she can’t quite understand. Can Fig find hope when everything feels so uncertain?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Fig is a middle-grade novel that chronicles the challenges of growing up with a parent battling schizophrenia, exploring the impact on family dynamics and a young girl's mental health. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively addresses complex themes like mental illness and self-destructive behavior, offering a thoughtful look at family life and resilience. Parents should be aware of the emotional depth and potential triggers related to mental health struggles.
Why we rated Fig 12ME
Fig is written at a Level 7 reading level across 346 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Fig works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Fig 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mental Health, Self-Destructive Behavior.
Thematically, Fig explores family, mental health, coming of age, and self-discovery — 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 family, mental health, coming of age.
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.
Content Flags
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
- 9781481423588
- Pages
- 346
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction