The (totally not) guaranteed guide to friends, foes & faux friends
Megan McCafferty
The (totally not) guaranteed guide to friends, foes & faux friends
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The (Totally Not) Guaranteed Guide to Friends, Foes & Faux Friends
by Megan McCafferty
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Popularity is tricky, but Jessica Darling is about to prove you can be smart and still rule seventh grade. She’s planning the most epic sleepover ever—will it make her popular or just show who her real friends are? It’s not about fitting in, but standing out, and that’s what counts.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Jessica Darling, a seventh grader navigating the challenges of friendships old and new while hosting a sleepover that might change her social standing. The story explores themes of individuality, peer relationships, and family in a relatable and age-appropriate way for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the focus on social dynamics and self-identity typical of early adolescence.
Why we rated The (totally not) guaranteed guide to friends, foes & faux friends 9LE
The (totally not) guaranteed guide to friends, foes & faux friends is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 194 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The (totally not) guaranteed guide to friends, foes & faux friends works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The (totally not) guaranteed guide to friends, foes & faux friends as 9LE ("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 (totally not) guaranteed guide to friends, foes & faux friends explores individuality, families, sleepovers, juvenile fiction, and popularity — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about individuality, families, sleepovers.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
The (totally not) guaranteed guide to stressing, obsessing & second-guessing
Megan McCafferty
The (totally not) guaranteed guide to stressing, obsessing & second-guessing
Megan McCafferty
Jessica Darling's It list
Megan McCafferty
Jessica Darling's It list
Megan McCafferty
How to Be Popular
Meg Cabot
How to Be Popular
Meg Cabot
The teen girl's survival guide
Lucie Hemmen
The teen girl's survival guide
Lucie Hemmen
How Not to Be Popular
Jennifer Ziegler
How Not to Be Popular
Jennifer Ziegler
Too popular
Francine Pascal
Too popular
Francine Pascal
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780316245043
- Pages
- 194
- Publisher
- Poppy
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction