What reading level is The opposite of love?

The opposite of love by Sarah Lynn Scheerger is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The opposite of love appropriate for?

The opposite of love is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The opposite of love?

The opposite of love is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does The opposite of love have any content warnings?

The opposite of love 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 opposite of love?

The opposite of love by Sarah Lynn Scheerger is 267 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The opposite of love

Sarah Lynn Scheerger

The opposite of love

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sarah Lynn Scheerger

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

What happens when two kids who feel like outsiders find a secret connection that everyone else tries to break? Rose and Chase are drawn to each other, but their worlds are full of secrets and challenges. When a mysterious message arrives on Christmas Eve, their story takes a surprising turn that could change everything.

Themes

Coming of Age Family Romance Friendship Adoption & Foster Care

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores themes of family challenges, personal struggles, and young romance through the story of Rose and Chase, two preteens dealing with difficult home lives and secrets. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively addresses emotional complexity and family conflict without graphic content. Parents should note the presence of themes about adoption, strict parenting, and emotional hardship.

Why we rated The opposite of love 9ME

The opposite of love is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 267 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The opposite of love works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The opposite of love 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 — 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 opposite of love explores coming of age, family, romance, friendship, and adoption & foster care — 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 coming of age, family, romance.

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.