Rules of Persuasion
Amity Hope
Rules of Persuasion
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amity Hope
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here’s a secret: Meg Matthews was the good girl—until everything changed. Now she’s riding motorcycles and painting graffiti, but that’s not the biggest surprise. When a certain star baseball player catches her, their fake relationship starts a chain of secrets—but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of grief, identity, and interpersonal relationships as Meg Matthews navigates personal loss and newfound rebellion. The story includes mild depictions of vandalism and blackmail within a school setting and centers around a fake relationship that evolves into genuine trust. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it offers thoughtful insights into coping with change and building connections.
Why we rated Rules of Persuasion 11ME
Rules of Persuasion 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, Rules of Persuasion works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Rules of Persuasion 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 — 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, Rules of Persuasion explores friendship, coming of age, family, romance, and sports — 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, coming of age, family.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
You Can Follow the Rules
Connie Colwell Miller
You Can Follow the Rules
Connie Colwell Miller
The Boyfriend Rules of Good Behavior
Catherine Bateson
The Boyfriend Rules of Good Behavior
Catherine Bateson
Power of Persuasion
Elizabeth Massie
Power of Persuasion
Elizabeth Massie
Rules
Cynthia Lord
Rules
Cynthia Lord
Break every rule
J. Minter
Break every rule
J. Minter
Break all rules
Eleanor Robins
Break all rules
Eleanor Robins
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781973878735
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction