Love You, Hate You
Charis Marsh
Love You, Hate You
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Ballet School Confidential
by Charis Marsh
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
The soft rustle of tutus and the sharp click of ballet shoes echo through the grand studio, mixing with the scent of rosin and determination. Four young dancers stretch, leap, and spin, each chasing a dream that feels just out of reach. Their bodies ache, their friendships are tested, and every step brings them closer to a moment that could change everything.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows four young ballet students navigating the challenges of their first year at the Vancouver International Ballet Academy. It explores themes of perseverance, friendship, and the pursuit of artistic dreams, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should know the story involves some emotional tension and the physical demands of ballet training but contains no intense or inappropriate content.
Why we rated Love You, Hate You 11LE
Love You, Hate You is written at a Level 6 reading level across 250 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Love You, Hate You works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Love You, Hate You as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Love You, Hate You explores friendship, coming of age, family, sports, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Tiny pretty things
Sona Charaipotra
Tiny pretty things
Sona Charaipotra
Dance challenge
Elisabetta Dami
Dance challenge
Elisabetta Dami
Love Is a Challenge
Hope Dube
Love Is a Challenge
Hope Dube
Dance steps
Beatrice Masini
Dance steps
Beatrice Masini
Our ballet class
Stephanie Riva Sorine
Our ballet class
Stephanie Riva Sorine
I am a dancer
Lynn Haney
I am a dancer
Lynn Haney
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781525244988
- Pages
- 250
- Publisher
- ReadHowYouWant
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction