This is how I find her
Sara Polsky
This is how I find her
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sara Polsky
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 sharp scent of medicine fills the air as Sophie wheels her suitcase down the quiet street, each step echoing with memories she thought she left behind. Her new home smells different—like fresh paint and possibility—but the weight of her mother’s illness still hangs heavy in her heart. Can Sophie find a way to heal and grow, even when her past feels so close?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the challenges faced by Sophie, a young girl coping with her mother's bipolar disorder and a recent suicide attempt. It sensitively portrays family dynamics, mental health, and the struggle between responsibility and personal growth. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story offers an honest look at serious themes with emotional depth, making it a valuable read for families navigating similar experiences.
Why we rated This is how I find her 11IE
This is how I find her is written at a Level 6 reading level across 260 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This is how I find her works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate This is how I find her as 11IE ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, This is how I find her explores family, mental health, coming of age, and family crises — 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 family, mental health, 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
11IE — Intense — 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
- 9780807578773
- Pages
- 260
- Publisher
- AW Teen
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction