Smart
Kim Slater
Smart
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kim Slater
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What if someone you cared about disappeared without a trace, and no one else seemed to notice? Kieran finds a deadly secret hidden beneath the surface of his quiet town, and he's determined to uncover the truth. But can he solve the mystery before it’s too late?
Quick Assessment
Smart is a compelling young adult novel about Kieran, a boy with a keen eye for detail and a talent for drawing, who embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind the death of a homeless man and the sudden absence of his grandmother. The story touches on themes of family, social neglect, and personal challenges, making it suitable for teens ages 13 and up. Parents should note the book addresses sensitive topics like homelessness and loss with emotional depth but without graphic content.
Why we rated Smart 11ME
Smart is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Smart works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Smart 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Smart explores family, mystery, coming of age, social justice, and disability representation — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 family, mystery, coming of age.
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.
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781529009217
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Macmillan Children's Books
- Published
- Jan 01, 2020
- Type
- Fiction