What reading level is This is our story?

This is our story by Ashley Elston is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is This is our story appropriate for?

This is our story is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Death.

What genre is This is our story?

This is our story is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does This is our story have any content warnings?

This is our story has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Death. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is This is our story?

This is our story by Ashley Elston is 312 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

This is our story

Ashley Elston

This is our story

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Ashley Elston

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

What really happened on that foggy morning at River Point? Five boys went hunting, but only four came back—and no one will say who fired the fatal shot. As secrets start to surface, the truth feels more dangerous than anyone expected.

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Family Mystery Social JusticeHigh School

Quick Assessment

This young adult novel follows Kate Marino, a high school senior interning at a District Attorney's office, as she investigates a mysterious shooting that killed a local boy. The story explores themes of justice, secrecy, and the pressures of powerful families in a small town. Suitable for teens, it contains mature themes such as death and complex social dynamics, making it appropriate for readers aged 13 and up.

Why we rated This is our story 9ME

This is our story is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 312 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This is our story works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate This is our story as 9ME ("Moderate — 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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Death.

Thematically, This is our story explores friendship, coming of age, family, mystery, and social justice — 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 13+ 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 who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.