Here to stay
Sara Farizan
Here to stay
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sara Farizan
The text is written at a 6th 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 one moment could change everything about how people see you? Bijan Majidi just made the winning basket in a big game, and suddenly everyone wants to know him. But when a hurtful photo spreads online, will Bijan’s new friends stand by him, or will fear and misunderstanding tear everything apart?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Bijan Majidi, a shy student and basketball player who faces cyberbullying and Islamophobia after a viral image misrepresents him. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story tackles themes of identity, prejudice, and resilience in a way that encourages empathy and open dialogue. Parents should note the presence of cyberbullying and discussions around discrimination, handled thoughtfully within the narrative.
Why we rated Here to stay 11ME
Here to stay is written at a Level 6 reading level across 265 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Here to stay works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Here to stay as 11ME ("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: Cyberbullying, Prejudice.
Thematically, Here to stay explores basketball, arab americans, cyberbullying, identity & self-discovery, and friendship — 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 basketball, arab americans, cyberbullying.
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
11ME — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781616207007
- Pages
- 265
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction