What reading level is The hidden summer?

The hidden summer by Gin Phillips is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 750L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The hidden summer appropriate for?

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

What genre is The hidden summer?

The hidden summer is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The hidden summer have any content warnings?

The hidden summer 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 hidden summer?

The hidden summer by Gin Phillips is 190 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The hidden summer

Gin Phillips

The hidden summer

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gin Phillips

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 smell of sun-warmed grass mixes with the distant laughter echoing through the empty miniature golf course. Nell and Lydia sneak away to their secret summer hideout, where forgotten places become full of hope—and new friends who need a place to belong. Amid whispered promises and hidden corners, their summer unfolds in ways they never expected.

Themes

Friendship FamilyHomelessnessComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows 12-year-old Nell and her best friend Lydia as they navigate family challenges and forbidden friendship during a summer spent at an abandoned miniature golf course. The story sensitively explores themes of friendship, family struggles, and homelessness, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the depiction of family problems and the presence of characters experiencing homelessness, handled with warmth and empathy.

Why we rated The hidden summer 9ME

The hidden summer is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 750L across 190 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The hidden summer works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The hidden summer 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, social complexity — 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 hidden summer explores friendship, family, homelessness, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, homelessness.

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.