The other side of truth

Name: The other side of truth
Author: Beverley Naidoo
ISBN: 9780064410021

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Beverley Naidoo

Reading Level 6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched Rich Discussion

The text is written at a 6th 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

The sharp scent of rain mixes with the cold London air as Sade and Femi step off the plane, their hearts pounding with fear and hope. They’ve escaped a dangerous secret back home, but the city feels huge and lonely, with shadows that whisper questions they can’t answer. Every step forward is a brave choice, but will the truth protect them or put them in even more danger?

Themes

RefugeesFamilyCourageSocial Justice Multicultural

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Nigerian siblings Sade and Femi as they flee their homeland after their mother’s death and their father’s activism puts them at risk. Set against the backdrop of London, the story explores themes of refugee experiences, family bonds, and courage in the face of political turmoil. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book addresses serious topics with sensitivity, including loss and displacement, making it a powerful choice for readers ready to engage with real-world issues.

Why we rated The other side of truth ME (Moderate)

The other side of truth is written at a Level 6 reading level across 252 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage The other side of truth on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate The other side of truth as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Fear & Anxiety, Poverty & Hardship.

Thematically, The other side of truth explores refugees, family, courage, social justice, and multicultural — 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.
✓ Family book clubs, classroom read-alouds, and parents who want a strong conversation hook.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about refugees, family, courage.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Intense ←

Physical

Mild

Social

Moderate

Thematic

Moderate

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.