My Book of Life by Angel
Martine Leavitt
My Book of Life by Angel
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Martine Leavitt
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 intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What happens when someone you trust gives you something that changes everything? Angel meets Call and suddenly, the candy he gives her makes her feel like she can fly—but soon, things aren’t as sweet as they seem. Can Angel find a way out before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows sixteen-year-old Angel as she becomes entangled with a manipulative older boy and faces the harsh realities of addiction and exploitation on the streets of Vancouver. The story explores difficult themes such as drug abuse, exploitation, and disappearance, making it suitable for mature readers aged 11 and up who can handle heavy subjects. Parents should be aware of the book’s depiction of street life and its emotional intensity.
Why we rated My Book of Life by Angel 11IE
My Book of Life by Angel is written at a Level 6 reading level across 257 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, My Book of Life by Angel works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate My Book of Life by Angel as 11IE ("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, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Drug Abuse, Exploitation, Runaway.
Thematically, My Book of Life by Angel explores coming of age, family, social justice, addiction, and runaways — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, family, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — 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
11IE — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780374351243
- Pages
- 257
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction