Making Sense of Sex
Sarah Attwood
Making Sense of Sex
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Forthright Guide to Puberty, Sex and Relationships for People with Asperger's Syndrome
by Sarah Attwood
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
You’re sitting in class when the teacher suddenly asks a question about changes during puberty. Everyone looks around nervously, but you’re curious and want to understand what’s really happening. Just as you start to ask your own questions, something unexpected happens...
Themes
Quick Assessment
Making Sense of Sex offers clear, straightforward explanations about puberty and sexual development tailored for children aged 9 to 12. It includes helpful diagrams and practical advice to support young readers navigating these changes. The book presents factual information in an age-appropriate manner, making it a useful resource for parents and educators.
Why we rated Making Sense of Sex 12LP
Making Sense of Sex is written at a Level 7 reading level across 322 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Making Sense of Sex works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Making Sense of Sex as 12LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Making Sense of Sex explores sex education, puberty, 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 sex education, puberty, coming of age.
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
12LP — Light — PhysicalLight 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781846427978
- Pages
- 322
- Publisher
- Jessica Kingsley Publishers
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction