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Shutter

Laurie Faria Stolarz

Cover of Shutter

Shutter

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Reading Level 7 Unrated Ages 13+

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

THE FACTS • Julian Roman, age sixteen, is an escapee from the Fairmount County Juvenile Detention Facility. • His parents, Michael Roman and Jennifer Roman, are dead. • Julian is wanted for murder. THE QUESTIONS • Why is Julian Roman on the run? • Just how dangerous is he? • And who did kill Michael and Jennifer Roman, if not Julian? Sixteen-year-old Day Connor views life through the lens of her camera, where perspective is everything. But photographs never tell the whole story. After Day crosses paths with Julian, the world she pictures and the truths she believes-neatly captured in black and white-begin to blur. Julian is not the "armed and dangerous" escapee the police are searching for, but his alibis don't quite add up, either. There is more to his story. This time, Day is determined to see the entire picture . . . whatever it reveals. Did he? Or didn't he? Day digs deeper into the case while Julian remains on the run. But the longer her list of facts becomes, the longer the list of questions becomes, too. It's also getting harder to deny the chemistry she feels for him. Is it real? Or is she being manipulated? Day is close to finding the crack in the case. She just needs time to focus before the shutter snaps shut. Laurie Faria Stolarz is a master of suspense and romance. Shutter will keep readers guessing until the very end.

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 7 book. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Shutter Level 0

Shutter is written at a Level 7 reading level across 337 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Shutter works for readers up to grade 9.0.

We rate Shutter as Unrated because the content sits in the "Unrated" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the unrated intensity score.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 0 — Unrated
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

This book has not yet been rated for content intensity.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Unrated" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
6
Theme Richness
1
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
4

Details

Book Length

337 pages
ISBN
9781484727904
Pages
337
Publisher
Disney-Hyperion
Published
2016
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

PhotographyYoung Adult FictionLoveMurder