The fixes
Owen Matthews
The fixes
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Owen Matthews
The text is written at a 8th 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
I have a secret about Eric Connelly—he’s tired of trying to be perfect for his dad. Then he meets Jordan, who makes breaking the rules look like an adventure, but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Eric, a boy struggling with his father’s high expectations, who gets drawn into risky behavior by a charismatic new friend. Themes include peer pressure, risky decision-making, and the challenges of fitting in among wealthy teens. Suitable for ages 9-12, parents should note the story involves escalating dares and mild references to illegal activities.
Why we rated The fixes 12ME
The fixes is written at a Level 8 reading level across 515 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The fixes works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The fixes 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The fixes explores peer pressure, rich people, juvenile fiction, teenagers, and friendship — 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 peer pressure, rich people, juvenile fiction.
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.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062336897
- Pages
- 515
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction