Flames going out
Kin Platt
Flames going out
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kin Platt
The text is written at a 4th 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 if you felt trapped inside your own mind, unsure of what’s real and what’s not? Imagine meeting someone who’s struggling just like you, and together you start to see the world in a new way. But can friendship survive when secrets and dangers close in?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the challenges of mental illness and drug abuse through the story of a 16-year-old girl navigating confusion and self-absorption while connecting with the drug-addicted son of her psychiatrist. Suitable for ages 9-12, it thoughtfully addresses sensitive themes with complexity appropriate for mature middle-grade readers. Parents should be aware of the book’s focus on mental health struggles and substance abuse.
Why we rated Flames going out 9ME
Flames going out is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 167 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Flames going out works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Flames going out as 9ME ("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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mental Illness, Drug Abuse.
Thematically, Flames going out explores mental health, friendship, 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 mental health, friendship, 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
9ME — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0416306217
- Pages
- 167
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Published
- 1980
- Type
- Fiction