What reading level is If you're reading this?

If you're reading this by Trent Reedy is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is If you're reading this appropriate for?

If you're reading this is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is If you're reading this?

If you're reading this is fiction — Families.

Does If you're reading this have any content warnings?

If you're reading this has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is If you're reading this?

If you're reading this by Trent Reedy is 296 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

If you're reading this

Trent Reedy

If you're reading this

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Trent Reedy

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

What would you do if you started receiving letters from your dad after he was gone? Michael’s world is full of silence and secrets, with a mother who worries too much and a past that won’t let go. Can these letters unlock the truth and help him find peace?

Themes

FamilyMothers and sonsLoss & GriefComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows sixteen-year-old Michael Wilson as he navigates life after his father’s death in Afghanistan. Through letters his father wrote before passing, Michael confronts family grief, his mother’s protectiveness, and his own challenges. Suitable for ages 9-12, it thoughtfully explores themes of loss and family without intense or graphic content.

Why we rated If you're reading this 9ME

If you're reading this is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 296 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, If you're reading this works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate If you're reading this as 9ME ("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, If you're reading this explores family, mothers and sons, loss & grief, and coming of age — 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 family, mothers and sons, loss & grief.

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.