The way you make me feel
Maurene Goo
The way you make me feel
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Maurene Goo
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered what happens when two very different worlds collide over something as simple as food? Imagine a lively food truck that brings together new friendships and unexpected feelings. But can love really blossom amid the chaos of high school and cultural traditions?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, cultural identity, and young love through the story of racially mixed characters navigating the challenges of middle school and family expectations. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a humorous and heartfelt look at social customs and diversity without intense content. Parents can expect a lighthearted read that encourages empathy and understanding.
Why we rated The way you make me feel 12LE
The way you make me feel is written at a Level 7 reading level across 323 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The way you make me feel works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The way you make me feel as 12LE ("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 way you make me feel explores multicultural, family, friendship, romance, 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 multicultural, family, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780374304089
- Pages
- 323
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR)
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction