Those girls
Lauren Saft
Those girls
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lauren Saft
The text is written at a 7th 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 buzz of a guitar fills the air, mixing with the laughter and secrets swirling around a crowded suburban party. Three best friends—Alex, Mollie, and Veronica—live for the spotlight, but behind their smiles are hidden feelings and tangled secrets. Can friendship survive when trust starts to crack beneath the music and the noise?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during junior year in suburban Philadelphia, this middle-grade novel explores the complex friendships of three girls navigating love, loyalty, and social pressures. The story includes themes of friendship challenges, budding romance, and personal growth, with some mature emotional content appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should note the honest portrayal of complicated relationships and social dynamics typical for this age group.
Why we rated Those girls 12ME
Those girls is written at a Level 7 reading level across 330 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Those girls works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Those girls as 12ME ("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, Those girls explores friendship, coming of age, family, music, and romance — 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 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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — 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
- 9780316403665
- Pages
- 330
- Publisher
- Poppy
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction