What reading level is Listening for Leroy?

Listening for Leroy by Betsy Gould Hearne is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Listening for Leroy appropriate for?

Listening for Leroy is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Listening for Leroy?

Listening for Leroy is fiction — Juvenile Nonfiction.

Does Listening for Leroy have any content warnings?

Listening for Leroy has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Listening for Leroy?

Listening for Leroy by Betsy Gould Hearne is 210 pages.

Listening for Leroy

Betsy Gould Hearne

Listening for Leroy

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Betsy Gould Hearne

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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

Alice’s best friend isn’t a kid her age—it’s Leroy, the farm hand who knows all her secrets. Their friendship is rare and special in 1950s Alabama, but when Alice moves away, everything changes. Can she find a new place to belong without losing the bond that shaped her?

Themes

Family FriendshipRace RelationsCountry LifeComing of Age

Quick Assessment

Set in the 1950s rural South, this middle-grade novel explores the unique friendship between a white girl and a Black farm hand amidst the complexities of race relations and family changes. It thoughtfully portrays themes of belonging, change, and cultural challenges appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should be aware of historical racial context and the social dynamics of the era depicted.