First we were IV

Name: First we were IV
Author: Alexandra Sirowy
ISBN: 9781481478427

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Alexandra Sirowy

Reading Level 4-5 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Here’s a secret: a group of friends have formed a secret society, but their bond might be more dangerous than anyone expected. When loyalty is tested and fears take over, what lengths will they go to keep their friendship alive? But that’s only the beginning.

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age MysterySchool

Quick Assessment

Izzie and her three closest friends create the Order of IV, a secret society built around pranks and fixing wrongs, to keep their bond intact before college splits them up. When outsiders clamor to join and the group's actions turn dangerous, the story explores how far fear of losing a friend can push someone, and it builds toward a costly ending. Expect tense, escalating suspense and a serious look at obsession and consequences; the violence and peril are moderate and the romance is minimal.

Why we rated First we were IV ME (Moderate)

First we were IV is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 436 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

We rate First we were IV as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, First we were IV explores friendship, coming of age, mystery, and school — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, mystery.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Mild

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?