How far we go and how fast
Nora Decter
How far we go and how fast
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nora Decter
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Strings hum softly under Jolene's fingers, filling the quiet room with her brother's lost melodies. Each note carries a memory, a whisper of the person who vanished without a trace. As the music swells, so does the ache of missing him—how far can she go to find him, and how fast will her heart follow?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This novel explores a teenage girl's emotional journey as she deals with her brother's disappearance through music and solitude. Suitable for ages 13-18, it sensitively handles themes of loss and coping, offering a poignant look at family bonds and personal resilience. The story contains no graphic content but involves emotional weight around missing family members.
Why we rated How far we go and how fast 11ME
How far we go and how fast is written at a Level 6 reading level across 254 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How far we go and how fast works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate How far we go and how fast 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 — 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 moderate intensity score.
Thematically, How far we go and how fast explores young adult fiction, music, brothers and sisters, family, and coping — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about young adult fiction, music, brothers and sisters.
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.
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
- 9781459816886
- Pages
- 254
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction