The Greenlee Project
Amanda M. Thrasher
The Greenlee Project
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amanda M. Thrasher
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
Greenlee's phone buzzes nonstop as cruel messages flood her screen—someone has made her their latest target. Friends whisper, faces turn cold, and the halls feel colder than ever. Just when she thinks it can't get worse, a new secret is about to explode, changing everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the serious issue of cyberbullying through the experiences of Greenlee, a young girl who becomes the focus of a harmful social media campaign. Suitable for ages 9-12, it realistically portrays the emotional and social challenges bullying can cause, including strained family and friend relationships. The story encourages discussions about online safety, empathy, and the impact of our choices on others.
Why we rated The Greenlee Project 9IE
The Greenlee Project is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 195 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Greenlee Project works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Greenlee Project as 9IE ("Intense — 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Cyberbullying.
Thematically, The Greenlee Project explores friendship, family, coming of age, social justice, and teenagers — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 friendship, family, coming of age.
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
9IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781944277031
- Pages
- 195
- Publisher
- Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, LLC
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction