Things I'd rather do than die
Christine Hurley Deriso
Things I'd rather do than die
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Christine Hurley Deriso
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
Jade and Ethan couldn’t be more different—she’s a quiet skeptic, he’s a star athlete and a devout Christian. But when they get locked together overnight, everything they thought about each other is turned upside down. What happens when two worlds collide and secrets start to surface?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of identity, belief, and friendship through the unexpected connection between two very different teenagers. It is appropriate for ages 9-12 and handles topics like faith, social labels, and self-discovery in a thoughtful and age-appropriate way. Parents should know it gently challenges preconceptions without heavy content or mature themes.
Why we rated Things I'd rather do than die 12LE
Things I'd rather do than die is written at a Level 7 reading level across 363 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Things I'd rather do than die works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Things I'd rather do than die 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, Things I'd rather do than die explores friendship, coming of age, family, social justice, and romance — 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 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
- 9781635830224
- Pages
- 363
- Publisher
- North Star Editions
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction