Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
My diary from here to there
Amada Irma Pérez
My diary from here to there
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amada Irma Pérez
The text is written at a 4th 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
The warm scent of tortillas fills the air as a young girl clutches her diary, the pages soft beneath her fingers. Her world is full of familiar sounds and faces, but soon everything will change as her family prepares to leave their home in Mexico. The flutter of hope and fear swirl together, making every moment feel both precious and uncertain.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fictional diary captures the emotional journey of a young Mexican American girl whose family emigrates from Mexico to the United States in search of work. It thoughtfully explores themes of family, cultural identity, and the challenges of migration, providing readers aged 9-12 with a sensitive portrayal of change and resilience. The book is appropriate for its age group and offers a gentle introduction to complex social themes without graphic content.
Why we rated My diary from here to there 9LE
My diary from here to there is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 31 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, My diary from here to there works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate My diary from here to there as 9LE ("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, My diary from here to there explores mexican americans, emigration and immigration, family, and diaries — 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 mexican americans, emigration and immigration, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0892391758
- Pages
- 31
- Publisher
- Children's Book Press (CA)
- Published
- 2002
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 780L