Sasquatch, love, and other imaginary things
Betsy Aldredge
Sasquatch, love, and other imaginary things
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Betsy Aldredge
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
Sam Berger is about to prove that reality TV isn’t just about competing—it’s about discovering the unexpected. When her family faces off against fancy prep school kids to find Bigfoot, they stumble on something even bigger: real connection. Because sometimes, the wildest adventures lead to the truest feelings.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows 17-year-old Sam Berger and her family as they participate in a reality television competition to find evidence of Bigfoot. Along the way, the story explores themes of family dynamics, social class differences, and cultural identity within a lighthearted and age-appropriate context. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the book provides a fun yet thoughtful look at relationships and self-discovery without intense content.
Why we rated Sasquatch, love, and other imaginary things 11MS
Sasquatch, love, and other imaginary things 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, Sasquatch, love, and other imaginary things works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Sasquatch, love, and other imaginary things as 11MS ("Moderate — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from social complexity — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Sasquatch, love, and other imaginary things explores family, reality television, social class, cultural identity, and friendship — 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 family, reality television, social class.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11MS — Moderate — SocialLight 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
- 9781507202807
- Pages
- 272
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction