Promise
Ida Linehan Young
Promise
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Ida Linehan Young
The text is written at a 6th 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
What would you do if a promise you made could change your whole life? Erith Lock, just sixteen, faces a harsh world after a cruel act shatters her. Can she keep her vow to three little children, or will the past pull her under?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Erith Lock, a young girl who struggles with a difficult family background and a devastating event that challenges her survival and sense of hope. It explores themes of resilience, family bonds, and moral choices appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book deals with emotional adversity and complex family dynamics in a sensitive manner.
Why we rated Promise 11ME
Promise is written at a Level 6 reading level across 272 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Promise works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Promise as 11ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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 family, coming of age, resilience, promise, and overcoming adversity — 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 family, coming of age, resilience.
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
11ME — 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
- 9781771177207
- Pages
- 272
- Publisher
- Flanker Press Limited
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction