It wasn't me
Dana Alison Levy
It wasn't me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dana Alison Levy
The text is written at a 7th 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
Who would sabotage Theo’s photography project just before the big school exhibit? Five classmates all claim, “It wasn’t me,” but the mystery only deepens. Can Theo discover the truth before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Theo as he navigates friendship and trust while trying to solve the mystery of his vandalized photography project at school. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of honesty, peer relationships, and problem-solving in a school setting. The story is appropriate for this age group with light tension surrounding the mystery.
Why we rated It wasn't me 12LE
It wasn't me is written at a Level 7 reading level across 327 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, It wasn't me works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate It wasn't me as 12LE ("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, It wasn't me explores friendship, middle schools, photography, vandalism, and social themes — 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, middle schools, photography.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — 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
- 9781524766436
- Pages
- 327
- Publisher
- Delacorte Press
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction