Love and other foreign words
Erin McCahan
Love and other foreign words
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Erin McCahan
The text is written at a 7th 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
Josie speaks many languages, but none of them feel like home—not High School, not Friends, and definitely not Love. When Josie has to learn the language of true love to stop a disaster, she must decode confusing feelings for a boy who says he loves her, a sister she adores but argues with, and a silent best friend. Understanding love might be the hardest language she’s ever had to learn, but it’s the one that could change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Josie as she navigates complex emotions involving family, friendship, and first love. Written for ages 9-12, it explores themes of communication and self-discovery with humor and warmth. Parents should note that the story deals with typical tween relationship challenges and emotional growth in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Love and other foreign words 12ME
Love and other foreign words is written at a Level 7 reading level across 331 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Love and other foreign words works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Love and other foreign words as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Love and other foreign words explores love, communication, friendship, family, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about love, communication, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9780803740518
- Pages
- 331
- Publisher
- Dial Books
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction