What reading level is Heart?

Heart by Lexi Harris is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Heart appropriate for?

Heart is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional).

Does Heart have any content warnings?

Heart has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Heart?

Heart by Lexi Harris is 212 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Heart

Lexi Harris

Heart

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lexi Harris

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Leah steps into her new school, heart pounding as she spots Jaxie, the coolest girl in music class. Their eyes meet, and suddenly everything feels different—exciting, scary, and full of possibilities. But when secrets start to surface, Leah wonders if this new friendship could change her world forever.

Themes

Family Coming of Age LGBTQ+ Representation FriendshipFirst Love

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Leah, a girl navigating the challenges of moving in with her father’s family and starting at a new school. As she builds friendships and discovers her feelings for another girl, Leah confronts themes of first love, family dynamics, and personal growth. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book sensitively explores LGBTQ+ identity and the emotional complexities of early adolescence.

Why we rated Heart 11ME

Heart is written at a Level 6 reading level across 212 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Heart works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Heart as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. 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 mild intensity score.

Thematically, Heart explores family, coming of age, lgbtq+ representation, friendship, and first love — 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 family, coming of age, lgbtq+ representation.