Out of darkness

Name: Out of darkness
Author: Ashley Hope Pérez
ISBN: 9781467742023

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Ashley Hope Pérez

Reading Level 3-4 IE · Intense · Emotional Ages 13+ Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes. Its HootRating code, IE, means intense content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

The air smells smoky and thick as a loud explosion shakes the ground beneath Naomi and Wash. They live in a town where invisible lines separate people — lines they know they shouldn’t cross. But when friendship and courage meet, even the hardest walls can tremble with hope and heart.

Challenged Book

About & Banning Context

Ages 13+

Set in 1937 New London, Texas, this novel explores the intense and forbidden romance between Naomi Vargas, a Mexican American girl, and Wash Fuller, a Black boy. In a community deeply divided by racism, their relationship challenges the societal boundaries that dictate who can love whom. As they navigate their feelings amidst the harsh realities of segregation, the backdrop of a looming tragedy—the New London school explosion—adds urgency to their struggle. The story delves into themes of love, prejudice, and the impact of family, while also highlighting the historical context of marginalized voices. The author includes a note discussing her research and the importance of representing these narratives in literature.

Key Themes

racism forbidden love family tragedy historical context

Awards & Accolades (15)

● Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Master List, Long-listed, 2017 (2017)
● Virginia Readers' Choice Award Reading List Selection, Long-listed, 2017 (2017)
● Garden State Teen Book Award Nominee, Nominated, 2017 (2017)
● Notable Award Booklist’s 50 Best YA Books of All Time, Winner, 2017 (2017)
● Notable Award Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year, Winner, 2016 (2016)
● Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices, Winner, 2016 (2016)
● Tomás Rivera Book Award, Winner, 2016 (2016)
● Notable Award YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, Winner, 2016 (2016)
+ 7 more

Reviewed By

School Library Journal ★ Kirkus Reviews

Source: Unite Against Book Bans — Out of darkness

Themes

Race relationsFamily HistoricalForbidden LoveSocial Justice

Quick Assessment

Set in 1937 East Texas, this historical fiction novel explores the harsh realities of racial segregation through the story of Naomi and Wash, whose bond challenges the strict social divides of their community. The narrative incorporates the tragic New London school explosion, adding emotional depth and historical context. Intended for mature readers around ages 12 and up, parents should note the book addresses themes of racism, forbidden love, and violence with intensity.

Why we rated Out of darkness IE (Intense)

Out of darkness is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 402 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

We rate Out of darkness as IE (Intense, mostly 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: Racial Discrimination, Violence, Sexual Violence, Historical Tragedy.

Thematically, Out of darkness explores race relations, family, historical, forbidden love, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about race relations, family, historical.

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 who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic reading-level-vs-content mismatch.

For Parents

Content Intensity

IE · Intense · Emotional

Emotional

Intense ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Intense

Thematic

Moderate

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Heavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.