This is what happy looks like
Jennifer E Smith
This is what happy looks like
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer E Smith
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Have you ever accidentally sent an email to the wrong person and made a new friend? Graham and Ellie start chatting about a pet pig, but they don’t know each other's real names or secrets. What will happen when their online friendship turns into a face-to-face meeting?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the unexpected friendship between two teens who connect online without knowing each other's true identities. Themes of family secrets, identity, and the challenges of adolescence are gently woven into the story. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains no intense content but touches on themes of health and self-discovery.
Why we rated This is what happy looks like 12C
This is what happy looks like is written at a Level 8 reading level across 404 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This is what happy looks like works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate This is what happy looks like as 12C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, This is what happy looks like explores friendship, family, identity & self-discovery, and health, fitness & dieting — 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 friendship, family, identity & self-discovery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545688123
- Pages
- 404
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- Mar 27, 2013
- Type
- Fiction