Tell me again how a crush should feel
Sara Farizan
Tell me again how a crush should feel
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sara Farizan
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
The sharp scent of rain mixes with the nervous flutter in Leila's chest as she watches Saskia walk into school. Everything feels different now—her heart races, her world shifts, and suddenly, the rules she thought she knew don’t seem to apply. Can she trust these new feelings, or will they change everything she’s ever known?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores the complexities of identity, cultural expectations, and first love through the eyes of Leila, a Persian-American teenager navigating her feelings for a new girl at school. The story sensitively addresses themes of sexual orientation, family dynamics, and self-discovery, making it appropriate for readers aged 13 and up. Parents should note the book includes candid discussions about sexuality and the challenges of coming out in a traditional family setting.
Why we rated Tell me again how a crush should feel 11IE
Tell me again how a crush should feel is written at a Level 6 reading level across 296 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tell me again how a crush should feel works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Tell me again how a crush should feel as 11IE ("Intense — 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, Tell me again how a crush should feel explores lgbtq+ representation, multicultural, coming of age, romance, and family — 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 lgbtq+ representation, multicultural, 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
11IE — Intense — 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
- 9781443439862
- Pages
- 296
- Publisher
- HarperTrophy
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction