What reading level is Pushin'?

Pushin' by L. Divine is at a Level 5-6 reading level. Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is Pushin' appropriate for?

Pushin' is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Death of Pet, Abandonment, Stalking, Physical Danger.

What genre is Pushin'?

Pushin' is fiction — Young Adult Fiction. Part of the Drama High series.

Does Pushin' have any content warnings?

Pushin' has a HootRating of 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Death of Pet, Abandonment, Stalking, Physical Danger. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Pushin'?

Pushin' by L. Divine is 224 pages (approximately 59,927 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Pushin'

L. Divine

Pushin'

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by L. Divine

Drama High

Reading Level 5-6 10IE Ages 13+ Heads Up

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

Jayd Jackson is ready to find peace after finishing her exams, but drama from friends and past relationships keeps pulling her into chaos. Between tangled friendships, family challenges, and her hair braiding business, Jayd must harness the strength passed down from her ancestors to take control of her life. Can she push through the turmoil and find the calm she longs for?

Themes

Friendship Family Coming of AgeAfrican American ExperienceSocial Justice

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include death of pet, abandonment, stalking. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Pushin' 10IE

Pushin' is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 224 pages (approximately 59,927 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Pushin' works for readers up to grade 7.9.

Read aloud, Pushin' runs about 6.7 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Pushin' as 10IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Death of Pet, Abandonment, Stalking, Physical Danger.

Thematically, Pushin' explores friendship, family, coming of age, african american experience, and social justice — 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.
✓ 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.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 13 more books in the Drama High series.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.