This is kind of an epic love story
Kacen Callender
This is kind of an epic love story
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kacen Callender
The text is written at a 6th 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
Nathan Bird claims he's the ultimate expert on unhappy endings, but when his childhood best friend Ollie moves back, everything Nathan believes about love gets turned upside down. Can Nathan rewrite his story and find a happy ending for himself? This isn't just any love story—it's Nathan's epic chance to prove that sometimes, love surprises you when you least expect it.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Nathan Bird, a film-loving aspiring screenwriter who struggles with the idea of happy endings due to past family loss and complicated friendships. When his former best friend Ollie returns, Nathan faces his feelings and the possibility of love, exploring themes of bisexuality, Deaf culture, and single-parent families in an age-appropriate, warm rom-com narrative. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the story sensitively addresses family dynamics and identity without intense conflict.
Why we rated This is kind of an epic love story 11LE
This is kind of an epic love story is written at a Level 6 reading level across 286 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This is kind of an epic love story works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate This is kind of an epic love story as 11LE ("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, This is kind of an epic love story explores family, friendship, romance, bisexuality, and deaf representation — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, friendship, romance.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062820228
- Pages
- 286
- Publisher
- Balzer + Bray
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction