The boyfriend project
Rachel Hawthorne
The boyfriend project
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rachel Hawthorne
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Kendall thinks her boyfriend Jeremy is just too sweet—maybe even a little boring. So, she decides to give him a makeover to add some edge, but things don't go as planned. What happens when the guy you try to change starts noticing other people? That's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Kendall as she navigates the challenges of young romance and social dynamics, exploring themes of identity and relationship boundaries. Suitable for ages 9-12, it presents light romantic content and addresses issues like jealousy and self-discovery in an age-appropriate manner. Parents should note that the story includes breakups and the emotional ups and downs typical of early adolescent relationships.
Why we rated The boyfriend project 12LE
The boyfriend project is written at a Level 7 reading level across 315 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The boyfriend project works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The boyfriend project as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The boyfriend project explores friendship, coming of age, romance, and social customs — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, romance.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062330734
- Pages
- 315
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction