The last summer of the Garrett girls
Jessica Spotswood
The last summer of the Garrett girls
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jessica Spotswood
The text is written at a 7th 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 warm scent of summer fills the air as the Garrett sisters laugh, argue, and share secrets under the golden sun. Each day brings new feelings and changes, especially as Bea prepares to leave for college. Together, they discover what it truly means to be family before everything feels different.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows four sisters during the last summer before one leaves for college, exploring family dynamics, growing up, and the bonds between siblings. Told from multiple perspectives, it thoughtfully addresses themes of change and connection suitable for readers aged 9-12. The story includes gentle portrayals of dating and family loss but remains age-appropriate and emotionally resonant.
Why we rated The last summer of the Garrett girls 12LE
The last summer of the Garrett girls is written at a Level 7 reading level across 356 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The last summer of the Garrett girls works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The last summer of the Garrett girls as 12LE ("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 last summer of the Garrett girls explores family, sisters, coming of age, orphans, and dating — 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 family, sisters, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781492622192
- Pages
- 356
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction