Self. Destructed
Evan Jacobs
Self. Destructed
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Evan Jacobs
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
Michael Ellis is running down the school hallway, heart pounding as whispers chase him. Ashley told him she liked him because he was different, but now she’s gone, and everything feels like it’s falling apart. When Michael makes a choice that changes everything, where will it lead him next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the emotional struggles of adolescence, focusing on themes like self-destructive behavior, rejection, and juvenile detention. Written at a grade 6 reading level, it is suitable for ages 9-12 but deals with serious issues such as mental health challenges and rehabilitation. Parents should be aware that it includes depictions of high school life, emotional distress, and consequences of difficult choices.
Why we rated Self. Destructed 11ME
Self. Destructed is written at a Level 6 reading level across 254 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Self. Destructed works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Self. Destructed 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mental Health, Harassment, Juvenile Detention.
Thematically, Self. Destructed explores self-destructive behavior, adolescence, juvenile detention, emotional problems of teenagers, and high school life — 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 self-destructive behavior, adolescence, juvenile detention.
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.
Content Flags
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781622507221
- Pages
- 254
- Publisher
- Saddleback Educational Publishing
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction