Little & Lion
Brandy Colbert
Little & Lion
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Brandy Colbert
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Everyone thinks Suzette has life all figured out, but her world is about to get a lot more complicated. Her stepbrother Lionel’s bipolar disorder challenges everything she thought she knew about family and love. When she falls for the same girl as Lionel, secrets and feelings collide—and nothing will ever be the same.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores complex themes of mental illness, family dynamics, and LGBTQ identity through the story of Suzette and her stepbrother Lionel, who is living with bipolar disorder. It offers an honest and compassionate look at love, support, and personal growth, suitable for teens aged 13 and older. Parents should be aware that it includes mature themes around mental health struggles and romantic relationships.
Why we rated Little & Lion 12IE
Little & Lion is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Little & Lion works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Little & Lion as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mental Illness, LGBTQ Themes, Romantic Content.
Thematically, Little & Lion explores coming of age, family, mental health, lgbtq+ representation, and romance — 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 coming of age, family, mental health.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780316349017
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction