HootRated mascot HootRated

Goodbye to all that

Jeanette Hanscome

Cover of Goodbye to all that

Goodbye to all that

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jeanette Hanscome

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

The crisp rustle of autumn leaves fills the air as Solana walks home from school, her heart pounding with new feelings she’s never felt before. She’s sworn off dating after too many disappointments, but what happens when the right person finally shows up? Now, Solana must decide what really matters to her—and it’s harder than she ever imagined.

Themes

Interpersonal relationsChristian lifeDatingComing of AgeSchool Life

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores a young girl's experiences with dating and personal values within her Christian community. It thoughtfully addresses themes of interpersonal relationships, peer pressure, and making decisions about romantic boundaries. Suitable for ages 9-12, it provides a gentle look at social challenges without explicit content.

Why we rated Goodbye to all that 9LE

Goodbye to all that is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 182 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Goodbye to all that works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Goodbye to all that 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, Goodbye to all that explores interpersonal relations, christian life, dating, coming of age, and school life — 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 interpersonal relations, christian life, dating.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Light
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

Similar Books

Based on content and theme analysis

See all books like this →

Details

Book Length

182 pages
ISBN
1589970519
Pages
182
Publisher
Focus on the Family Publishing
Published
2002
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

DatingInterpersonal RelationsChristian LifeScience ProjectsHigh SchoolsSchools