The radius of us

Name: The radius of us
Author: Marie Marquardt
ISBN: 9781250096890

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Marie Marquardt

Reading Level 4-5 MP · Moderate · Physical Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, MP, means moderate content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

Two teenagers, each haunted by their own painful experiences, find strength and comfort as their lives intertwine. Together, they navigate the challenges of their past and the dangers of their world, forging a bond that helps them heal and grow. Their journey reveals the power of friendship and love amidst hardship and uncertainty.

Themes

Romance Coming of AgeTrauma RecoveryImmigrationFriendship

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include emotional: trauma, physical/safety: violence, social: immigration. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated The radius of us MP (Moderate)

The radius of us is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 295 pages (approximately 82,606 words). Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

Read aloud, The radius of us runs about 9.2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The radius of us as MP (Moderate, mostly physical) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Emotional: Trauma, Physical/Safety: Violence, Social: Immigration, Social: Gang Violence, Romantic Content.

Thematically, The radius of us explores romance, coming of age, trauma recovery, immigration, and friendship — 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 denser, slower-paced text.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about romance, coming of age, trauma recovery.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the text is dense and the pacing rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

MP · Moderate · Physical

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Moderate ←

Social

Moderate

Thematic

Gentle

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.