Promises, promises
Annie Bryant
Promises, promises
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Annie Bryant
The text is written at a 6th 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 buzz of chatter fills the air, mixed with the scratch of pencils and the rustle of campaign posters. Everywhere you look, friends and rivals are plotting their next move in the school election. Can promises be kept when everyone’s watching and the stakes feel so high?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a junior high school, this middle-grade novel explores the ups and downs of friendship and the excitement of school elections. It portrays the everyday challenges girls face around this age, including peer dynamics and personal growth, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. The story offers positive messages about trust, responsibility, and navigating social situations.
Why we rated Promises, promises 11LE
Promises, promises is written at a Level 6 reading level across 253 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Promises, promises works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Promises, promises 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, Promises, promises explores friendship, coming of age, family, school life, and social dynamics — 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, coming of age, family.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780975851128
- Pages
- 253
- Publisher
- Beacon Street Girls
- Published
- 2005
- Type
- Fiction