Permanent Record
Mary H. K. Choi
Permanent Record
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mary H. K. Choi
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of cold winter air mixes with the sizzling sounds of frying food at 5 a.m. in a busy Brooklyn deli. Two very different lives — a struggling college dropout and a famous pop star — collide in this noisy, colorful city that never sleeps. Their unexpected friendship will make you wonder how much of who we are is really our own story.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Permanent Record follows Pablo, a college dropout working the graveyard shift in a Brooklyn deli, and Leanna, a globally famous pop star overwhelmed by fame. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the novel explores themes of identity, social media influence, and navigating early adulthood. The book is appropriate for middle-grade readers and offers a warm, humorous look at the complexities of growing up and forming genuine connections.
Why we rated Permanent Record 12LE
Permanent Record is written at a Level 8 reading level across 432 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Permanent Record works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Permanent Record as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Permanent Record explores friendship, family, romance, social media influence, and identity & self-discovery — 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 friendship, family, romance.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9781534445970
- Pages
- 432
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction