What reading level is Secrets out!?

Secrets out! by Julie Sternberg is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 520L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Secrets out! appropriate for?

Secrets out! is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Secrets out!?

Secrets out! is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Secrets out! have any content warnings?

Secrets out! has a HootRating of 8LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Secrets out!?

Secrets out! by Julie Sternberg is 166 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Secrets out!

Julie Sternberg

Secrets out!

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Julie Sternberg

Illustrated by Wright, Johanna, illustrator

Reading Level 3 8LE Ages 5-8 Matched

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Celie is the best secret-keeper around—until her own family starts hiding big surprises! When Granny moves in and forgetfulness causes trouble, everything gets tricky. Can Celie crack the mystery behind the whispered secrets before things get out of hand?

Themes

Family Humor Friendship Coming of AgeDiariesSecrets

Quick Assessment

This early chapter book follows ten-year-old Celie as she navigates the challenges of family secrets and changing relationships, including caring for her forgetful grandmother. The story uses humor and diary-style entries to explore themes of trust, communication, and growing up, making it suitable for ages 5-8. Parents should note that it gently addresses concerns about aging family members and the complexity of keeping and sharing secrets.

Why we rated Secrets out! 8LE

Secrets out! is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 520L across 166 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Secrets out! works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate Secrets out! as 8LE ("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, Secrets out! explores family, humor, friendship, coming of age, and diaries — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 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, humor, friendship.