The things a brother knows
Dana Reinhardt
The things a brother knows
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 middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Boaz was the high school star who left it all behind to become a soldier. Now he’s back, but something inside him has changed in ways no one expected. When Boaz leaves again, Levi sets off on a brave journey to uncover the secrets his brother can’t speak—and to bring him home for good.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Levi, a young boy grappling with the return of his older brother Boaz from military service in the Middle East. The story sensitively explores themes of post-traumatic stress disorder, family dynamics, and identity, providing an age-appropriate look at the challenges faced by veterans and their loved ones. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the book offers a thoughtful portrayal of emotional struggles without graphic content.
Why we rated The things a brother knows 11IE
The things a brother knows is written at a Level 6 reading level across 245 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The things a brother knows works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The things a brother knows as 11IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — 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 things a brother knows explores family, brothers, post-traumatic stress disorder, 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 family, brothers, post-traumatic stress disorder.
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
11IE — Intense — 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
- 9780375844553
- Pages
- 245
- Publisher
- Wendy Lamb Books
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction