Secrets We Keep
Cassie Gustafson
Secrets We Keep
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Cassie Gustafson
The text is written at a 7th 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
Emma stands frozen in the courtroom, heart pounding, as her best friend points a finger at her dad. Memories swirl—dark fairytales, secret moments, and confusing flashes from the past—all crashing down around her. What really happened between them? Emma’s world is about to shatter, but the truth is still hidden.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows fourteen-year-old Emma as she navigates the emotional turmoil of a serious accusation against her father made by her best friend. Told through flashbacks and present-day scenes, the story explores themes of truth, memory, and loyalty in a sensitive manner appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should be aware of the mature subject matter involving accusations of crimes within a family context.
Why we rated Secrets We Keep 12IE
Secrets We Keep is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Secrets We Keep works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Secrets We Keep as 12IE ("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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Accusations of Serious Crimes.
Thematically, Secrets We Keep explores friendship, family, mystery, and identity & self-discovery — 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 friendship, family, mystery.
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
12IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781665906951
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction