Is This Tomorrow
Caroline Leavitt
Is This Tomorrow
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
The text is written at a 7th 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 if moving to a new neighborhood meant facing not just new friends, but also suspicion and secrets? Imagine a boy named Lewis trying to find his place while his friend suddenly disappears. As mysteries unfold, Lewis and Rose must decide if some truths are better left hidden.
Quick Assessment
Set in 1956 Boston, this historical middle-grade novel explores themes of family, belonging, and the impact of Cold War paranoia on a Jewish single mother and her son. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively addresses loss, friendship, and difficult choices, with some social tension and historical context that may prompt thoughtful discussions.
Why we rated Is This Tomorrow 12ME
Is This Tomorrow is written at a Level 7 reading level across 369 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Is This Tomorrow works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Is This Tomorrow as 12ME ("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, social complexity — 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, Is This Tomorrow explores friendship, family, historical, coming of age, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 friendship, family, historical.
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
12ME — 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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781616200541
- Pages
- 369
- Publisher
- Algonquin Books
- Published
- 2013-05-07
- Type
- Fiction