What reading level is The pull of gravity?

The pull of gravity by Gae Polisner is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The pull of gravity appropriate for?

The pull of gravity is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Loss & Grief, Family Change, Illness & Injury.

What genre is The pull of gravity?

The pull of gravity is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The pull of gravity have any content warnings?

The pull of gravity has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Loss & Grief, Family Change, Illness & Injury. 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 pull of gravity?

The pull of gravity by Gae Polisner is 202 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The pull of gravity

Gae Polisner

The pull of gravity

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gae Polisner

Reading Level 6 11ME 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.

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About This Book

Nick Gardner is facing the impossible: his best friend Scooter is dying, and Scooter’s last wish sends Nick and their quirky classmate Jaycee on a journey to find a dad who vanished years ago. Armed with a treasured book and Steinbeck's lessons, they dive into an adventure that will change everything. What will they discover about friendship, family, and themselves along the way?

Themes

GriefFamily Friendship Coming of AgeJuvenile FictionFathers and Sons

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores themes of grief, family struggles, and friendship through the eyes of Nick, whose best friend is terminally ill. As Nick and a classmate embark on a heartfelt quest to fulfill a dying wish, readers encounter poignant lessons about loss and resilience. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story handles heavy topics with sensitivity and wit.

Why we rated The pull of gravity 11ME

The pull of gravity is written at a Level 6 reading level across 202 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The pull of gravity works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate The pull of gravity as 11ME ("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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Family Change, Illness & Injury.

Thematically, The pull of gravity explores grief, family, friendship, coming of age, and juvenile fiction — 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.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Family book clubs, classroom read-alouds, and parents who want a strong conversation hook.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about grief, family, friendship.

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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.