What reading level is Since You've Been Gone?

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson is at a Level 6-7 reading level (Lexile 970L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Since You've Been Gone appropriate for?

Since You've Been Gone is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Since You've Been Gone?

Since You've Been Gone is fiction — Juvenile Nonfiction.

Does Since You've Been Gone have any content warnings?

Since You've Been Gone has a HootRating of 11LE (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 Since You've Been Gone?

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson is 449 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Since You've Been Gone

Morgan Matson

Since You've Been Gone

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Morgan Matson

Reading Level 6-7 11LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The salty breeze mixes with the sound of crashing waves as Emily holds a crumpled list of strange challenges left behind by her missing best friend, Sloane. Each task feels like a secret doorway to a world Emily never dared to enter before. With every step, her summer unfolds into a surprising adventure of friendship and courage.

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Family RomanceSocial Issues

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Emily as she navigates a summer filled with unexpected challenges after her outgoing best friend Sloane disappears, leaving behind a mysterious list of tasks. The story explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and family life, making it suitable for ages 9 to 12. There are gentle romantic elements and social themes around friendship dynamics, all handled with sensitivity appropriate for this age group.

Why we rated Since You've Been Gone 11LE

Since You've Been Gone is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 970L across 449 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Since You've Been Gone works for readers up to grade 8.5.

We rate Since You've Been Gone as 11LE ("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, Since You've Been Gone explores friendship, coming of age, family, romance, and social issues — 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, coming of age, family.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.