Kill you last
Todd Strasser
Kill you last
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Todd Strasser
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What would you do if the people you trust suddenly become suspects? Shelby's world turns upside down when three girls disappear, and her own dad is the main person everyone blames. Can she uncover the truth before everything falls apart?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Shelby as she navigates the shock and confusion when her father, a fashion photographer, becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of three teenage girls. The story explores themes of family loyalty, trust, and mystery, suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the presence of a criminal investigation and missing persons case, handled with sensitivity appropriate for the target audience.
Why we rated Kill you last 11ME
Kill you last is written at a Level 6 reading level across 223 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kill you last works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Kill you last 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, thematic difficulty — 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, Kill you last explores family, mystery, missing persons, criminal investigation, and fathers and daughters — 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 family, mystery, missing persons.
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
2/10A 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
- 9781606843918
- Pages
- 223
- Publisher
- Egmontusa
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction