What reading level is Pedro & Daniel?

Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia is at a Level 8 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Pedro & Daniel appropriate for?

Pedro & Daniel is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Abuse, LGBTQ+ Themes, AIDS Epidemic.

What genre is Pedro & Daniel?

Pedro & Daniel is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Pedro & Daniel have any content warnings?

Pedro & Daniel has a HootRating of 12IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Abuse, LGBTQ+ Themes, AIDS Epidemic. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Pedro & Daniel?

Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia is 440 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Pedro & Daniel

Federico Erebia

Pedro & Daniel

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Federico Erebia

Reading Level 8 12IE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

Américas Award commended title

The text is written at a 8th 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

The buzzing hum of a summer evening fills the air as Pedro and Daniel play quietly in their Ohio backyard, far from the noisy games the other kids love. Pedro’s skin is as dark as their dad’s, and Daniel hugs a doll close, dreaming of a world where they both belong. Even when things get tough at home, their brotherly bond is a soft, steady light in the shadows.

Themes

Family Coming of Age LGBTQ+ Representation MulticulturalBrotherhoodResilience

Quick Assessment

Pedro & Daniel follows two Mexican American brothers growing up in 1970s Ohio, navigating a challenging home life and societal expectations. This coming-of-age novel sensitively addresses themes such as family conflict, identity, and the impact of the AIDS epidemic, appropriate for middle-grade readers aged 9-12 with some mature content considerations. The story includes depictions of emotional hardship and explores topics like coming out and abuse with care, supported by evocative illustrations.

Why we rated Pedro & Daniel 12IE

Pedro & Daniel is written at a Level 8 reading level across 440 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Pedro & Daniel works for readers up to grade 10.0.

We rate Pedro & Daniel as 12IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Abuse, LGBTQ+ Themes, AIDS Epidemic.

Thematically, Pedro & Daniel explores family, coming of age, lgbtq+ representation, multicultural, and brotherhood — 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 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, lgbtq+ representation.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Pedro & Daniel carries an award.

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.