What reading level is How it went down?

How it went down by Kekla Magoon is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 560L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is How it went down appropriate for?

How it went down is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Death.

What genre is How it went down?

How it went down is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does How it went down have any content warnings?

How it went down has a HootRating of 8ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Death. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is How it went down?

How it went down by Kekla Magoon is 326 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

How it went down

Kekla Magoon

How it went down

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kekla Magoon

Reading Level 3 8ME Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Tariq Johnson was just like any other teenager—until the day everything changed forever. His story is told from many different voices, each with their own truth. But whose story is the real one? That's what makes this book so important.

Themes

Race RelationsSocial Justice Family Friendship Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This book explores a complex and sensitive issue through multiple perspectives following the shooting of a Black teenager by a white shooter. Suitable for early readers, it introduces themes of race relations and social justice in an age-appropriate manner. Parents should be aware that it deals with death and differing viewpoints on a serious event.

Why we rated How it went down 8ME

How it went down is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 560L across 326 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How it went down works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate How it went down as 8ME ("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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Death.

Thematically, How it went down explores race relations, social justice, family, friendship, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about race relations, social justice, family.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.