These Bodies Between Us
Sarah Van Name
These Bodies Between Us
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Van Name
The text is written at a 7th 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
Salt and sand stick between your toes as the ocean whispers secrets only the wind can hear. Four friends glide fearlessly along the shore, dreaming of disappearing into the summer air like shadows at dusk. But what if vanishing isn't as easy as it seems—and what if coming back is even harder?
Quick Assessment
Set in a small North Carolina beach town, this coming-of-age story follows four teenage girls who discover a mysterious way to make themselves invisible. As they explore this newfound power, they confront complex emotions about identity, friendship, and personal struggles. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the book touches on themes of self-discovery, family dynamics, and the challenges of adolescence with a subtle, haunting twist.
Why we rated These Bodies Between Us 12ME
These Bodies Between Us is written at a Level 7 reading level across 337 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, These Bodies Between Us works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate These Bodies Between Us as 12ME ("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, 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, These Bodies Between Us explores friendship, coming of age, family, and mystery — 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 friendship, coming of age, family.
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
12ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 9780593646175
- Pages
- 337
- Publisher
- Delacorte Press
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction