Secrets untold
Shelia M. Goss
Secrets untold
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shelia M. Goss
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.
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About This Book
What if the person you called Dad isn't really your dad? Porsha’s whole world flips when she overhears a secret that changes everything about her family. Can she find a way to hold on when even her best friends don’t know how to help?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the complex emotions of family secrets and identity through the story of 15-year-old Porsha, who discovers her biological father is a famous sportscaster. The book sensitively handles themes of family conflict, betrayal, and the impact of public scrutiny, making it suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should be aware of the depiction of family tension and media attention but will find it a valuable conversation starter about honesty and resilience.
Why we rated Secrets untold 11IE
Secrets untold is written at a Level 6 reading level across 293 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Secrets untold works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Secrets untold as 11IE ("Intense — 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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — 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, Secrets untold explores family, friendship, coming of age, family secrets, and juvenile fiction — 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 family, friendship, coming of age.
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
11IE — Intense — 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781601623126
- Pages
- 293
- Publisher
- Urban Soul
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction