How We Feel
Jacki Gordon, Gillian Grant
How We Feel
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
An Insight Into the Emotional World of Teenagers
by Jacki Gordon, Gillian Grant
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
Here’s a secret: everyone your age is feeling a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions—sometimes confusing, sometimes exciting. Imagine hearing their true stories about friendship, family, and growing up, whispered just for you. But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers an honest and relatable look into the emotions and experiences of young adolescents, covering topics like family dynamics, peer relationships, and self-identity. Suitable for ages 9-12, it addresses sensitive subjects such as bullying and peer pressure with care and authenticity. Parents should note it includes candid discussions that can prompt meaningful conversations about growing up.
Why we rated How We Feel 11ME
How We Feel is written at a Level 6 reading level across 201 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How We Feel works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate How We Feel 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 We Feel explores adolescents, identity & self-discovery, friendship, family, and bullying — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adolescents, identity & self-discovery, friendship.
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781853024399
- Pages
- 201
- Publisher
- Jessica Kingsley Publishers
- Published
- April 1997
- Type
- Fiction