I thought we were friends!
Nancy E. Krulik
I thought we were friends!
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nancy E. Krulik
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Have you ever felt jealous of a friend? Jenny’s favorite aunt is an art director who wants to use her friend Liza’s artwork for greeting cards, but suddenly Jenny feels a twist of green envy bubbling inside her. Can she keep her friendship strong, or will jealousy get the best of her?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores themes of friendship and jealousy set against the backdrop of a school Career Day. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an accessible way for children to understand and discuss feelings of envy and the importance of communication in relationships. The story is light-hearted with relatable emotions and no concerning content.
Why we rated I thought we were friends! 9LE
I thought we were friends! is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 117 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I thought we were friends! works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate I thought we were friends! as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, I thought we were friends! explores friendship, schools, jealousy, and juvenile fiction — 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 friendship, schools, jealousy.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545132725
- Pages
- 117
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction