Kissing Ted Callahan (and other guys)
Amy Spalding
Kissing Ted Callahan (and other guys)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amy Spalding
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Riley has one rule: help each other win over crushes and write it all down in their secret notebook. But when cute boys start showing up everywhere—and even Ted Callahan, her forever crush, starts acting differently—things get way more complicated than she expected. Can Riley and Reid keep their pact while navigating the wild ride of middle school dating?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the ups and downs of early adolescent dating and friendship through the story of Riley and her best friend Reid. It features themes of crushes, social dynamics, and self-discovery, with light romantic situations and some awkward moments typical of the age group. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it provides a humorous and relatable look at growing up and navigating social relationships.
Why we rated Kissing Ted Callahan (and other guys) 12LE
Kissing Ted Callahan (and other guys) is written at a Level 7 reading level across 312 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kissing Ted Callahan (and other guys) works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Kissing Ted Callahan (and other guys) as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Kissing Ted Callahan (and other guys) explores friendship, coming of age, romance, humor, and social customs — 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 friendship, coming of age, romance.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9780316371520
- Pages
- 312
- Publisher
- Poppy
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction