Prom
Laurie Halse Anderson
Prom
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Laurie Halse Anderson
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Ash rushes through the crowded school hallway, heart pounding as chaos erupts around the gym where prom is supposed to happen. Her friend Nat’s plan is crumbling fast, and if Ash doesn’t step up now, everything could fall apart. But can she really save the night—and herself—before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows Ash, an eighteen-year-old who initially wants to avoid the senior prom but finds herself drawn into helping her friend Nat when things start to go wrong. The story explores themes of friendship, adolescence, and social challenges faced by teens. Suitable for ages 13 to 18, it deals with realistic social issues in a relatable and sensitive way.
Why we rated Prom 11LE
Prom is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Prom works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Prom as 11LE ("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, Prom explores friendship, coming of age, social issues - adolescence, and girls & women — 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, social issues - adolescence.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781417700202
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- February 2006
- Type
- Fiction