November Blues
Sharon M. Draper
November Blues
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sharon M. Draper
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
November never expected her world to shatter so suddenly — losing Josh wasn’t the end, but the beginning of a new, harder journey. Pregnant and scared, she faces a choice that could change everything. Meanwhile, Jericho tries to outrun his grief on the football field, but some pain can’t be tackled away.
Themes
Quick Assessment
November Blues tackles heavy themes like teenage pregnancy, grief, and the struggle to cope with loss in a realistic and heartfelt way. Set in a high school environment with sports and friendship dynamics, it’s appropriate for teens aged 13 and up who can handle mature topics sensitively explored. Parents should know it deals with emotional trauma and difficult decisions but ultimately offers messages about resilience and support.
Why we rated November Blues 12IE
November Blues is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, November Blues works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate November Blues as 12IE ("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: Teen Pregnancy, Grief.
Thematically, November Blues explores friendship, coming of age, family, sports, and social issues - adolescence — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! 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
12IE — 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
2/10A 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
- 9781416906988
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Atheneum Books for Young Readers
- Published
- October 23, 2007
- Type
- Fiction