Stolen secrets
L. B. Schulman
Stolen secrets
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by L. B. Schulman
The text is written at a 7th 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
I’m about to tell you a secret you won’t believe — Livvy’s grandmother, who she thought was gone forever, is alive and hiding memories that could change everything. Strange journal entries and whispered stories from the past hint at a history tied to Anne Frank herself, but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows sixteen-year-old Livvy as she uncovers family secrets after discovering her grandmother, suffering from Alzheimer’s, has a mysterious Holocaust past. The story explores themes of memory, history, and identity in a way suitable for readers aged 13 and up. It handles serious topics like dementia and the Holocaust with sensitivity, making it appropriate for mature middle school and high school readers.
Why we rated Stolen secrets 12ME
Stolen secrets is written at a Level 7 reading level across 303 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stolen secrets works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Stolen secrets as 12ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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, Stolen secrets explores coming of age, family, secrets, memory, and historical — 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 coming of age, family, secrets.
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
12ME — 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
1/10A 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
- 9781629797229
- Pages
- 303
- Publisher
- Astra Publishing House
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction