Getting serious
Jennifer Sarasin
Getting serious
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer Sarasin
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here's a secret: Tara just got engaged, and she’s determined to prove everyone wrong about her age. But when the cheer squad starts working at a daycare after school, her forgetfulness might cause more trouble than she expected. And that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
Getting Serious follows Tara, a young girl newly engaged and eager to show she’s ready for grown-up responsibilities. When her cheerleading squad takes on a daycare job, Tara's absentmindedness leads to challenges that test her maturity and teamwork skills. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the story explores themes of responsibility and friendship without any intense content.
Why we rated Getting serious 9LE
Getting serious is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 155 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Getting serious works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Getting serious as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Getting serious explores friendship, coming of age, family, humor, and sports — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Cheer Team Trouble
Jane bingham
Cheer Team Trouble
Jane bingham
Falling Hard
Jessica Burkhart
Falling Hard
Jessica Burkhart
Tara's Family Secrets
Cherrell Shelley-Robinson
Tara's Family Secrets
Cherrell Shelley-Robinson
Flirting
Diane Hoh
Flirting
Diane Hoh
Stealing secrets
Ann E. Steinke
Stealing secrets
Ann E. Steinke
Officially Losing It
Rebecca Anderson
Officially Losing It
Rebecca Anderson
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0590413929
- Pages
- 155
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- 1988
- Type
- Fiction