Take Me with You When You Go
David Levithan
Take Me with You When You Go
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by David Levithan
The text is written at a 7th 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 would you do if your sister disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only a secret clue meant just for you? Ezra wakes up to find Bea gone, and suddenly, he’s left to face a scary home life all alone. But Bea’s new journey might uncover family secrets that change everything — can they find each other again?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Take Me with You When You Go explores the difficult themes of family abuse, neglect, and sibling bonds through the perspectives of a teenage brother and sister. Suitable for ages 13 and up, it thoughtfully addresses emotional trauma and the complexity of family relationships, with moments of hope and resilience. Parents should be aware of mature themes related to domestic abuse and family conflict.
Why we rated Take Me with You When You Go 12IE
Take Me with You When You Go is written at a Level 7 reading level across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Take Me with You When You Go works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Take Me with You When You Go as 12IE ("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: Abuse, Neglect.
Thematically, Take Me with You When You Go explores family, siblings, coming of age, social justice, and emotional resilience — 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 family, siblings, coming of age.
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
12IE — 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
- 9780525581000
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- National Geographic Books
- Published
- 2021
- Type
- Fiction