The summer I learned to fly
Dana Reinhardt
The summer I learned to fly
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dana Reinhardt
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The warm scent of cheese and fresh bread fills the air as Drew carefully wraps up a wedge in her mom’s shop. Outside, the summer sun blazes down, but inside, Drew’s heart is tangled—caught between her crush on Nick and the changes stirring at home. With her curious pet rat and a mysterious boy named Emmett by her side, Drew’s summer is about to unfold in ways she never imagined.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in the summer of 1986, this coming-of-age story follows thirteen-year-old Drew as she navigates family changes, first crushes, and personal growth. The book touches on themes of loss, adjustment to a new parental relationship, and friendship. Appropriate for ages 13 to 18, it offers a heartfelt exploration of adolescence without intense content.
Why we rated The summer I learned to fly 11LE
The summer I learned to fly is written at a Level 6 reading level across 226 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The summer I learned to fly works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The summer I learned to fly as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The summer I learned to fly explores family, friendship, coming of age, social themes, and people & places — 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 slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, friendship, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780385739542
- Pages
- 226
- Publisher
- Random House Digital, Inc.
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction