Promise
Judy Young
Promise
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a novel
by Judy Young
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
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to keep a big secret? Kaden lives quietly with his grandmother and his clever pet crow, Kubla, avoiding questions about his mysterious father. But when middle school begins and his dad comes back from prison, everything Kaden thought he knew starts to change—will he be able to trust new friends or will the past catch up with him?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows eleven-year-old Kaden as he navigates the challenges of starting middle school while dealing with complex family issues, including his father’s recent release from prison. The story addresses themes of friendship, trust, and personal responsibility in a sensitive and age-appropriate way. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it offers a thoughtful look at children of incarcerated parents and the struggles of fitting in at a new school.
Why we rated Promise 12ME
Promise is written at a Level 7 reading level across 351 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Promise works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Promise 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 — 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, Promise explores friendship, family, coming of age, juvenile fiction, and animals as pets — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, coming of age.
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781585369140
- Pages
- 351
- Publisher
- Sleeping Bear Press
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction