The things you kiss goodbye
Leslie Connor
The things you kiss goodbye
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Leslie Connor
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Bettina’s heart races as Brady, the star basketball player, convinces her dad to let them date. Summer feels like a dream full of freedom and first love—but when school starts, Brady isn’t the same. Suddenly, Bettina’s world tilts, and she’s caught in a secret she can’t ignore.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the complexities of first love, family dynamics, and the painful reality of dating violence. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively portrays an abusive relationship and the courage needed to confront difficult truths, making it an important read for understanding healthy versus unhealthy relationships.
Why we rated The things you kiss goodbye 12IE
The things you kiss goodbye is written at a Level 7 reading level across 358 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The things you kiss goodbye works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The things you kiss goodbye as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Dating Violence, Abusive Relationships.
Thematically, The things you kiss goodbye explores coming of age, family, love stories, juvenile fiction, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
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 coming of age, family, love stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780060890919
- Pages
- 358
- Publisher
- Katherine Tegen Books
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction