They Called Me Bunny
Mary Anderson Parks
They Called Me Bunny
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Mary Anderson Parks
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Have you ever felt like you don’t really belong? Bunny changes her hair to match her adoptive family, but at home, she hides secrets behind a locked door. What will happen when she decides to search for the parents she believes she was taken from?
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores the difficult themes of adoption and family secrets through the story of Bunny, a teenager dealing with abuse and identity struggles. Suitable for ages 13 and up, it sensitively addresses physical and emotional abuse while following her journey to find her birth parents. Parents should be aware of mature themes related to family trauma and abuse.
Why we rated They Called Me Bunny 11IE
They Called Me Bunny is written at a Level 6 reading level across 284 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, They Called Me Bunny works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate They Called Me Bunny as 11IE ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Physical and Emotional Abuse.
Thematically, They Called Me Bunny explores adoption & foster care, family, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adoption & foster care, family, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781931982801
- Pages
- 284
- Publisher
- Livingston Press (AL)
- Published
- November 30, 2006
- Type
- Fiction