Making friends
Emily Chase
Making friends
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Emily Chase
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
The creak of old floorboards echoes through Canby Hall as three strangers from different places find themselves sharing a room. Jane, Toby, and Andy each bring their own stories, hopes, and fears into this new space. Together, they discover that friendship can grow in the most unexpected places.
Quick Assessment
Making Friends follows three diverse teenagers who become roommates at Canby Hall, navigating the challenges and joys of forming new friendships. Suitable for middle school to early high school readers, this book explores themes of friendship, identity, and belonging. It contains no intense content, making it appropriate for ages 13-18.
Why we rated Making friends 9C
Making friends is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 166 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Making friends works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Making friends as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Making friends explores friendship, coming of age, multicultural, and family — 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 friendship, coming of age, multicultural.
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
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" 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
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Make friends
L. L. Owens
Make friends
L. L. Owens
Making friends
Cassie Mayer
Making friends
Cassie Mayer
Making Friends with Chloe/Jessica (Make Friends with)
Ann Bryant
Making Friends with Chloe/Jessica (Make Friends with)
Ann Bryant
Making friends
Luanna H. Meyer
Making friends
Luanna H. Meyer
Making Friends (Growing Up)
Janine Amos
Making Friends (Growing Up)
Janine Amos
Making & keeping friends
John J. Schmidt
Making & keeping friends
John J. Schmidt
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780590403276
- Pages
- 166
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- 1986
- Type
- Fiction