Not comin' home to you
Kavanagh, Paul
Not comin' home to you
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kavanagh, Paul
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 very intense with mature or graphic material.
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About This Book
What happens when two people, both feeling invisible, find each other and change everything? Jimmie John Hall and Betty Dienhardt spark a dangerous adventure across the country where every choice leads them deeper into trouble. But will their bond be strong enough to survive the storm closing in?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This novel explores the intense and dark story of two troubled teens who embark on a violent crime spree across the American Midwest. Inspired by real events, it contains themes of violence and emotional disturbance, making it suitable for mature middle-grade readers aged 12 and up with parental guidance. The story delves into complex character psychology and depicts criminal actions and their consequences vividly.
Why we rated Not comin' home to you 11VP
Not comin' home to you is written at a Level 6 reading level across 220 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Not comin' home to you works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Not comin' home to you as 11VP ("Vivid — Physical") because the content sits in the "Very Intense" range — very intense or graphic content — peril, violence, trauma, or mature themes treated head-on. 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: Violence, Death, Crime.
Thematically, Not comin' home to you explores crime, psychological drama, adventure, family, 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 crime, psychological drama, adventure.
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.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11VP — Vivid — PhysicalGraphic or sustained depictions of trauma, violence, or mature content.
Content Flags
Was our "Very Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 0399113576
- Pages
- 220
- Publisher
- Putnam
- Published
- 1974
- Type
- Fiction