What reading level is The friends?

The friends by Rosa Guy is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The friends appropriate for?

The friends is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The friends?

The friends is fiction — African American teenage girls.

Does The friends have any content warnings?

The friends has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The friends?

The friends by Rosa Guy is 185 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The friends

Rosa Guy

The friends

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Rosa Guy

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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 scent of rain on the pavement mixes with the heavy silence between two best friends. Phyllisia feels the weight of words left unsaid and memories packed away like old photographs. Can she find the courage to bridge the distance before it’s too late?

Themes

Friendship FamilyDysfunctional familiesAfrican American teenage girlsJuvenile fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the complex emotions of friendship strained by personal loss and family struggles. It offers a thoughtful look at how pride and grief can affect relationships, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12 who are ready to engage with themes of family dynamics and emotional growth.

Why we rated The friends 9ME

The friends is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 185 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The friends works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The friends as 9ME ("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 friends explores friendship, family, dysfunctional families, african american teenage girls, and juvenile fiction — 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, family, dysfunctional families.

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.