The leaving year
Pam McGaffin
The leaving year
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Pam McGaffin
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What would you do if the person you loved most disappeared without a trace? Imagine living in a small fishing town where your father’s boat never came back, but you’re not sure if he’s really gone. Secrets are waiting beneath the waves, and the truth could change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This coming-of-age novel follows a teenage girl grappling with the mystery of her fisherman father’s presumed drowning in 1967. The story explores themes of loss, family bonds, and self-discovery, suitable for readers ages 13 to 18. It offers thoughtful insight into coping with uncertainty and the search for truth without intense content.
Why we rated The leaving year 12ME
The leaving year is written at a Level 7 reading level across 345 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The leaving year works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The leaving year as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, The leaving year explores family, coming of age, fathers and daughters, and mystery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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, coming of age, fathers and daughters.
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
12ME — Moderate — 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
- 9781943006816
- Pages
- 345
- Publisher
- Sparkpress
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction