Keeping mother's secrets
Tracy May
Keeping mother's secrets
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Surviving Terror and Betrayal Through Courage and Hope
by Tracy May
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 intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of rain on cold pavement fills the air as footsteps echo down a quiet street. Behind closed doors, secrets weigh heavy, and every whisper holds a story of hidden pain and strength. Sometimes, the hardest battles are the ones no one sees, but they shape who we become.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores difficult themes such as child abuse and family violence through a fictionalized memoir based on the author's experiences. It provides educational insight into the four types of child abuse—physical, mental, neglect, and sexual—while focusing on resilience and self-discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, parents should be aware of the sensitive subject matter presented thoughtfully and with the aim of fostering understanding.
Why we rated Keeping mother's secrets 12IE
Keeping mother's secrets is written at a Level 7 reading level across 357 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Keeping mother's secrets works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Keeping mother's secrets as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Abuse, Family Violence.
Thematically, Keeping mother's secrets explores self-actualization, abused children, family, and biography — 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 self-actualization, abused children, family.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780578147253
- Pages
- 357
- Publisher
- Bounceback Press
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Nonfiction