What reading level is This is the story of you?

This is the story of you by Beth Kephart is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 850L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is This is the story of you appropriate for?

This is the story of you is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is This is the story of you?

This is the story of you is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does This is the story of you have any content warnings?

This is the story of you has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. 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 the story of you?

This is the story of you by Beth Kephart is 258 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

This is the story of you

Beth Kephart

This is the story of you

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Beth Kephart

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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.

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

Salt air fills your lungs as waves crash fiercely against the battered shore. Mira's island, once a safe haven, now lies shattered by a superstorm that changed everything overnight. Amid the ruins, secrets stir, and Mira must find her way through loss and new mysteries to protect what she holds dear.

Themes

Survival FamilyNatureLoss & GriefAdventure

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Mira, a young girl living on a small barrier island devastated by a superstorm. The story explores themes of survival, family bonds, and coping with loss, providing a poetic yet gripping narrative suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book deals with natural disaster aftermath and emotional challenges but handles these with sensitivity and hope.

Why we rated This is the story of you 10ME

This is the story of you is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 850L across 258 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This is the story of you works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate This is the story of you as 10ME ("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 — 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 the story of you explores survival, family, nature, loss & grief, and adventure — 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 survival, family, nature.

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.