Keeping The Moon
Sarah Dessen
Keeping The Moon
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Dessen
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Colie Sparks is not your average girl—she’s been the kid everyone notices for the wrong reasons. But this summer, everything changes when she lands a job and meets two hilarious waitresses who show her what confidence really looks like. It’s not just about losing weight; it’s about finding out who she truly is, and that makes all the difference.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Keeping The Moon follows Colie Sparks, a teenage girl struggling with self-image and social acceptance, as she spends a transformative summer with her aunt. Through new friendships and personal growth, Colie learns to see herself differently and gains confidence. Suitable for teens aged 13-18, the book addresses themes of body image, family, and self-discovery without explicit content.
Why we rated Keeping The Moon 11ME
Keeping The Moon is written at a Level 6 reading level across 228 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Keeping The Moon works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Keeping The Moon as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Keeping The Moon explores family, girls & women, friendship, coming of age, and self-discovery — 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 family, girls & women, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780606307994
- Pages
- 228
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- July 30, 2004
- Type
- Fiction