Last Dance
Caroline B. Cooney
Last Dance
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Caroline B. Cooney
The text is written at a 5th 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
Five friends come together to make their final school dance unforgettable, each hoping it will be a night to remember. As they navigate hopes, friendships, and surprises, their last dance becomes a celebration of growing up and new beginnings.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include friendship, coming of age. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Last Dance 10LN
Last Dance is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 258 pages (approximately 56,041 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Last Dance works for readers up to grade 7.5.
Read aloud, Last Dance runs about 6.2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Last Dance as 10LN ("Light — Neutral") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Friendship, Coming of Age.
Thematically, Last Dance explores friendship, coming of age, and family — 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 friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10LN — Light — NeutralLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0590457853
- Pages
- 258
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- June 1992
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 56,041
- Read-Aloud
- ~6h 14m
- Text Density
- Standard