Slide
Jill Hathaway
Slide
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jill Hathaway
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
What if you could see through someone else's eyes, but only when you black out? Vee Bell isn't just narcoleptic—she 'slides' into other people's minds, uncovering secrets no one else knows. When she witnesses a terrifying crime from inside a killer's mind, can she stop a mystery no one believes?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Slide is a middle-grade mystery about Vee Bell, a girl with a unique ability to experience the world through others' eyes during narcoleptic episodes. The story explores themes of murder, secrets, and trust among peers, suitable for ages 9-12 with some suspenseful and intense moments. Parents should note the presence of a murder mystery and complex emotional dynamics.
Why we rated Slide 11ME
Slide is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Slide works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Slide 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Murder, Secrets, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, Slide explores mystery, sisters, friendship, 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 mystery, sisters, friendship.
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
2/10A 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
- 9780062077905
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- Balzer + Bray
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction