LASSO THE MOON (Laurel-Leaf Books)
Dennis Covington
LASSO THE MOON (Laurel-Leaf Books)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dennis Covington
The text is written at a 4th 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 if the person you least expect could change everything you thought you knew? April meets Fernando, a boy with a mysterious scar and a story from far away. As she tries to uncover the truth, she faces questions that might change her world forever.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of adolescence, family dynamics, and social issues through the eyes of 17-year-old April as she navigates her feelings for Fernando, a Latin American immigrant with a complex past. Suitable for readers ages 9-12, the story addresses topics like immigration and identity with sensitivity but includes mature themes that may prompt thoughtful discussions. Parents should be aware of the book's treatment of social and emotional challenges related to coming of age and cultural differences.
Why we rated LASSO THE MOON (Laurel-Leaf Books) 9ME
LASSO THE MOON (Laurel-Leaf Books) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 196 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, LASSO THE MOON (Laurel-Leaf Books) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate LASSO THE MOON (Laurel-Leaf Books) as 9ME ("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, social complexity — 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, LASSO THE MOON (Laurel-Leaf Books) explores family, adolescence & coming of age, social themes, and multicultural — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, adolescence & coming of age, social themes.
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
9ME — 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780440220138
- Pages
- 196
- Publisher
- Laurel Leaf
- Published
- August 1, 1996
- Type
- Fiction