Last Summer with Maizon
Jacqueline Woodson
Last Summer with Maizon
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jacqueline Woodson
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Margaret faces a summer unlike any other—her dad is gone, and her best friend Maizon is moving away. It’s a time of big changes and even bigger feelings. How will she hold on to friendship when everything else is falling apart?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of loss, friendship, and change through the eyes of eleven-year-old Margaret, who copes with her father's death and her best friend's departure to boarding school. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively handles grief and growing up, making it a thoughtful read for children navigating similar emotions.
Why we rated Last Summer with Maizon 9ME
Last Summer with Maizon is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 105 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Last Summer with Maizon works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Last Summer with Maizon 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Divorce & Family Change, Loneliness.
Thematically, Last Summer with Maizon explores friendship, family, coming of age, and emotional growth — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 friendship, family, coming of age.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! 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.
Content Flags
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
6/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Until the End of Summer
Elizabeth Ogilvie
Until the End of Summer
Elizabeth Ogilvie
The last great summer
Stanley, Carol
The last great summer
Stanley, Carol
End of summer
Bernice Grohskopf
End of summer
Bernice Grohskopf
My Last Summer with Cass
Mark Crilley
My Last Summer with Cass
Mark Crilley
The last summer of the Garrett girls
Jessica Spotswood
The last summer of the Garrett girls
Jessica Spotswood
Last Best Days of Summer
Valerie Hobbs
Last Best Days of Summer
Valerie Hobbs
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780153022517
- Pages
- 105
- Publisher
- Harcourt Children's Books
- Published
- 1994-01-01
- Type
- Nonfiction