My Mother's boyfriend and me
Alice Jacoby
My Mother's boyfriend and me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Alice Jacoby
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 intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
The quiet creak of the old wooden floor under Laurie’s feet feels louder than ever. The air smells of her mother’s vanilla perfume mixed with something that doesn’t sit right. Laurie’s heart pounds as she faces a secret she never wanted to know, but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel sensitively explores the difficult topic of sexual harassment through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old girl living with her mother and her mother's boyfriend. The story provides an opportunity for parents and children to discuss personal boundaries and safety. Recommended for ages 9-12, it handles mature themes with care, though parental guidance is advised due to the subject matter.
Why we rated My Mother's boyfriend and me 9IE
My Mother's boyfriend and me is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 165 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, My Mother's boyfriend and me works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate My Mother's boyfriend and me as 9IE ("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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Sexual Harassment.
Thematically, My Mother's boyfriend and me explores family, coming of age, and emotional safety — 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 family, coming of age, emotional safety.
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
9IE — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780803702004
- Pages
- 165
- Publisher
- Dial
- Published
- 1987
- Type
- Fiction