The sky at our feet
Nadia Hashimi
The sky at our feet
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nadia Hashimi
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
Jason’s world flips upside down the moment he thinks his mom has been taken away by the police. Alone in a huge city, he must find his way to his aunt, but the city is full of surprises—and dangers—he never imagined. What will happen when he meets Max, a fearless girl who believes running away is the only way out?
Quick Assessment
This middle grade novel explores the challenges faced by an Afghan-American boy whose mother is living in the U.S. illegally and is suddenly detained. The story deals with themes of immigration, family separation, and resilience, appropriate for readers aged 9-12. While it contains moments of mild peril and emotional tension, the book offers a hopeful message about friendship and courage.
Why we rated The sky at our feet 11ME
The sky at our feet is written at a Level 6 reading level across 232 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The sky at our feet works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The sky at our feet 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, social complexity — 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 sky at our feet explores multicultural, family, friendship, coming of age, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about multicultural, 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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781538500712
- Pages
- 232
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction