It's a Matter of Trust
Marcia Byalick
It's a Matter of Trust
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Marcia Byalick
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The phone rings just as everything starts to fall apart. She hears the words no kid ever wants to hear—her dad has been arrested. Now, with her world spinning out of control, she has to decide who to trust next.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores the impact of political corruption on a family through the eyes of a teenage girl whose father faces criminal charges. Suitable for readers aged 13 and up, it sensitively addresses themes of trust, family dynamics, and personal growth without graphic content. Parents should note the mature subject matter related to legal and ethical challenges.
Why we rated It's a Matter of Trust 11ME
It's a Matter of Trust is written at a Level 6-7 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 7.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, It's a Matter of Trust works for readers up to grade 8.5.
We rate It's a Matter of Trust as 11ME ("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, It's a Matter of Trust explores family, political corruption, trust, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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, political corruption, trust.
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
11ME — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
- ISBN
- 9780613005739
- Publisher
- Turtleback
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction