The friendship solution
Aristides Yerou
The friendship solution
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Aristides Yerou
The text is written at a 4th 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: Aleka has a test no one else knows about—a test that could change everything with her new friends. When a stolen necklace turns friendship into a tricky puzzle, will she do what’s right or risk losing the only friends she’s made? But that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This collection features two middle-grade stories exploring friendship and mystery. Aleka, a new girl, faces a moral dilemma when friendship is challenged by a theft, while Nicky embarks on a suspenseful journey to uncover the truth about a stranger resembling his father. Suitable for ages 9-12, the stories touch on themes of honesty, loyalty, and identity without intense content.
Why we rated The friendship solution 9LE
The friendship solution is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 107 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The friendship solution works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The friendship solution as 9LE ("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 friendship solution explores friendship, mystery, coming of age, and multicultural — 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, mystery, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 0888625812
- Pages
- 107
- Publisher
- Lorimer
- Published
- 1984
- Type
- Fiction