The art of starving
Sam J. Miller
The art of starving
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sam J. Miller
The text is written at a 7th 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
Matt hasn’t eaten in days, and it’s not just because he’s hungry. The less he eats, the more amazing powers he discovers—like reading minds and bending time! But using these powers to uncover the secrets behind his sister’s disappearance might be more dangerous than he ever imagined.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of body image, self-acceptance, and family dynamics through the story of Matt, a gay teenager who discovers supernatural powers linked to his fasting. While the story contains elements of bullying and emotional struggle, it handles them with sensitivity appropriate for readers aged 9-12. Parents should be aware of the novel’s focus on addiction and mental health as it navigates complex topics in a thought-provoking way.
Why we rated The art of starving 12ME
The art of starving is written at a Level 7 reading level across 372 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The art of starving works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The art of starving 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Body Image, Bullying, Addiction.
Thematically, The art of starving explores lgbtq+ representation, family, friendship, coming of age, and fantasy world-building — 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 9-12 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, family, 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
12ME — 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
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
- 9780062456717
- Pages
- 372
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction