This impossible light
Lily Myers
This impossible light
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lily Myers
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
Have you ever felt like your body is changing in ways you can't control? Fifteen-year-old Ivy is growing taller and curvier, but instead of feeling proud, she feels lost as her family drifts apart and her best friend grows distant. What will happen when Ivy tries to take control in all the wrong ways?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This novel in verse follows 15-year-old Ivy as she navigates body image struggles, family changes following her parents' divorce, and the challenges of adolescence. The story sensitively explores eating disorders, self-worth, and the impact of parental influence, making it appropriate for middle grade readers aged 9-12 with mature themes presented thoughtfully. Parents should be aware of its focus on disordered eating and emotional difficulties but will find it a valuable resource for starting conversations about these issues.
Why we rated This impossible light 12IE
This impossible light is written at a Level 7 reading level across 339 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This impossible light works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate This impossible light as 12IE ("Intense — 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Eating Disorders, Family Change.
Thematically, This impossible light explores body image, divorce & family change, coming of age, family, and schools — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 body image, divorce & family change, coming of age.
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
12IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780399173721
- Pages
- 339
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction