Throw Away Teen
Shannon Kennedy
Throw Away Teen
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shannon Kennedy
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here's a secret: B.J. Larson has been bounced from foster home to foster home, and she’s learned to expect nothing but disappointment. But when she lands in Stewart Falls with foster parents who actually want to care for her, something feels different — and that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
Throw Away Teen follows B.J. Larson, a middle-grade girl with a long history in the foster care system, as she navigates new challenges and opportunities in her 13th foster home. The story explores themes of resilience, trust, and belonging appropriate for ages 9-12, with some references to juvenile detention and foster care struggles. Parents should be aware it touches on the realities of foster care but handles them with sensitivity.
Why we rated Throw Away Teen 12ME
Throw Away Teen is written at a Level 7 reading level across 383 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Throw Away Teen works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Throw Away Teen 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, Throw Away Teen explores coming of age, family, friendship, and adoption & foster care — 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 coming of age, family, friendship.
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
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Subject to Change
Karen Nesbitt
Subject to Change
Karen Nesbitt
Throwaway Girl
Kristine Scarrow
Throwaway Girl
Kristine Scarrow
Thrown Away Child
Louise Allen
Thrown Away Child
Louise Allen
Throwaway daughter
Ye, Ting-xing
Throwaway daughter
Ye, Ting-xing
Please don't throw me away
Margaret Grant
Please don't throw me away
Margaret Grant
Throwaway Bear
Sandy Nightingale
Throwaway Bear
Sandy Nightingale
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9798886530407
- Pages
- 383
- Publisher
- Fire & Ice Young Adult Books
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction