Paper things
Jennifer Jacobson
Paper things
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer Jacobson
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
I have a secret: Ari made a promise to stay with her big brother no matter what. But what happens when 'together' means hiding from the cold, bouncing from couch to couch, and trying to keep a secret from everyone? And that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Paper Things follows Ari, a young girl who chooses to stay with her older brother Gage despite their unstable living situation. This middle-grade novel thoughtfully explores themes of family bonds, homelessness, and the challenges faced by gifted children trying to keep their promises and dreams alive. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it offers a sensitive portrayal of youth resilience amidst hardship.
Why we rated Paper things 12ME
Paper things is written at a Level 7 reading level across 376 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Paper things works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Paper things as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Paper things explores family, orphans, gifted children, homelessness, and promises — 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, orphans, gifted children.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" 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
- 9780763663230
- Pages
- 376
- Publisher
- National Geographic Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction