Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The great good summer
Elizabeth Garton Scanlon
The great good summer
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon
The text is written at a 5th 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
The rumble of the bus engine mixes with the salty breeze as Ivy and Paul set off on a road trip full of secrets and dreams. Ivy’s heart races, wondering if her mom will come back from Florida, while Paul can’t stop thinking about the Space Shuttle he hopes to see before it’s gone forever. Together, they discover that summer can change everything in ways they never expected.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows twelve-year-old Ivy, grappling with her mother’s mysterious disappearance with a preacher, and her classmate Paul, who dreams of seeing the Space Shuttle before its program ends. Their summer bus trip blends themes of family uncertainty, friendship, and hope. The book is appropriate for ages 9-12 and gently explores emotional themes like loss and adventure without intense content.
Why we rated The great good summer 10LE
The great good summer is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 870L across 218 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The great good summer works for readers up to grade 7.5.
We rate The great good summer as 10LE ("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 great good summer explores adventure, friendship, family, bus travel, and christian life — 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 adventure, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481411479
- Pages
- 218
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 870L