Keeping her secret
Sarah Nicolas
Keeping her secret
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
an endless summer novel
by Sarah Nicolas
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
I have a secret to share: Riya never thought she'd see Courtney again, especially not at summer camp. But now they're stuck sharing a bunk bed, and old feelings are stirring—feelings neither of them can ignore. Yet, with pranks flying and hearts on the line, this is only the beginning of their story.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores the complex relationship between two teenage girls reunited at summer camp, where past heartbreak and hidden feelings resurface amid challenges like peer pressure and emotional confusion. It contains themes of romance, identity, and interpersonal conflict, along with depictions of drinking and sexual situations, making it appropriate for mature teens aged 13 and up.
Why we rated Keeping her secret 11ME
Keeping her secret is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Keeping her secret works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Keeping her secret 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Drinking, Sexual Situations.
Thematically, Keeping her secret explores teenage girls, interpersonal relations, lesbianism, camps, and romance — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about teenage girls, interpersonal relations, lesbianism.
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.
Content Flags
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781682812709
- Pages
- 208
- Publisher
- Entangled Publishing
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction