Skim
Mariko Tamaki
Skim
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mariko Tamaki
Illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if fitting in meant standing out in all the wrong ways? Imagine navigating friendships, secret crushes, and dark thoughts while feeling like an outsider in your own school. Skim’s world is full of twists—can she find her place before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Skim explores the complexities of teenage life through the eyes of Kimberly Cameron, a goth girl at an all-girls school in 1990s Toronto. The graphic novel addresses mature themes such as depression, suicide, and social cliques, making it suitable for older teens. Parents should be aware of its candid portrayal of mental health struggles and adolescent identity.
Why we rated Skim 9IE
Skim is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 140 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Skim works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Skim as 9IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Depression, Suicide.
Thematically, Skim explores friendship, coming of age, family, romance, and mental health — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
- 9780888997531
- Pages
- 140
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books Ltd
- Published
- February 28, 2008
- Type
- Fiction