In real life
Jessica Patrick
In real life
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Jessica Patrick
The text is written at a 6th 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
Here’s a secret: sometimes breaking the rules can lead to the biggest adventures. Hannah Cho takes a daring road trip with her sister and best friend to Las Vegas, ready to tell Nick Cooper how she really feels. But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Hannah Cho as she embarks on an impulsive road trip to Las Vegas with her sister and best friend, aiming to express her romantic feelings for a close friend. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of young love, friendship, and self-discovery with light romantic content and mild adventure. Parents should note the focus on travel and personal growth, with no significant mature content.
Why we rated In real life 11LE
In real life is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, In real life works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate In real life as 11LE ("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, In real life explores love, friendship, juvenile fiction, romance, and automobile travel — 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 love, friendship, juvenile fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
- 9781250064714
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction