How the Light Gets In
Katy Upperman
How the Light Gets In
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Katy Upperman
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Have you ever felt like a shadow is following you, whispering secrets you can’t quite catch? Callie returns to her aunt’s creaky old house by the sea, where the salty air hides more than just memories. As mysterious dreams and strange happenings fill her nights, what message is her sister trying to send from beyond?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows 17-year-old Callie as she struggles with grief after her sister’s death, navigating emotional turmoil and supernatural experiences during a summer in a small coastal town. The story explores themes of loss, healing, and mystery, with paranormal elements that add suspense but remain suitable for teens aged 13-18. Parents should note some eerie scenes and emotional intensity related to grief and trauma.
Why we rated How the Light Gets In 12IE
How the Light Gets In is written at a Level 7 reading level across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How the Light Gets In works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate How the Light Gets In as 12IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — 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 the Light Gets In explores coming of age, family, romance, mystery, and paranormal — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, family, romance.
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
12IE — Intense — 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Light Inside
Yasmin Elhady
Light Inside
Yasmin Elhady
The Lights Under the Lake
Sophie Cleverly
The Lights Under the Lake
Sophie Cleverly
Light
Samantha Berger
Light
Samantha Berger
Lights under the Lake
Sophie Cleverly
Lights under the Lake
Sophie Cleverly
In the Shadows
Kiersten White, Jim Di Bartolo
In the Shadows
Kiersten White, Jim Di Bartolo
A light in the dunes
Martha Attema
A light in the dunes
Martha Attema
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781250305671
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- Swoon Reads
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction