The distance to home
Jenn Bishop
The distance to home
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jenn Bishop
The text is written at a 6th 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
The sharp crack of a bat echoes through the summer air, mixing with the scent of fresh-cut grass and worn leather gloves. Quinnen stands on the pitcher's mound, feeling the weight of every pitch and the quiet ache inside her heart. Between the cheers and the silence, she learns what it means to hold on—and let go.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the emotional journey of Quinnen, a young baseball player grappling with the loss of her older sister. Set across two summers, the story sensitively addresses themes of grief and healing, making it suitable for children ages 9-12 who are ready to engage with topics of loss in a gentle, age-appropriate way.
Why we rated The distance to home 11ME
The distance to home is written at a Level 6 reading level across 230 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The distance to home works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The distance to home as 11ME ("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 — 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, The distance to home explores grief, sports, family, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about grief, sports, family.
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
11ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 9781101938720
- Pages
- 230
- Publisher
- Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction