The yearbook
Carol Masciola Villelabeitia
The yearbook
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Carol Masciola Villelabeitia
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
The old gym smells like popcorn and polished wood as the Fall Frolic dance buzzes with laughter and music. Suddenly, Lola finds herself surrounded by students dressed in clothes from nearly a century ago, and a friendly face from a dusty yearbook smiles right back at her. But is this magical night a real trip through time or just a dream Lola needs to wake up from?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Lola, a misfit teen dealing with a difficult family history and life in a group home, who mysteriously travels back eighty years after discovering an old yearbook. The story explores themes of mental illness, hope, and self-discovery in a way suitable for ages 9-12, with sensitive handling of complex emotional issues. Parents should note the book touches on mental health challenges and the blurred lines between reality and imagination.
Why we rated The yearbook 11ME
The yearbook is written at a Level 6 reading level across 223 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The yearbook works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The yearbook as 11ME ("Moderate — 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 — 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 yearbook explores coming of age, mental health, friendship, family, and time travel — 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, mental health, friendship.
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
11ME — Moderate — 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
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
- 9781440588976
- Pages
- 223
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction