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TMI

Patty Blount

Cover of TMI

TMI

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Patty Blount

Reading Level 7 12LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

What happens when a secret online friendship starts causing real-life trouble? Bailey's new gamer friend seems mysterious and exciting, but Megan worries he might not be who he says he is. Can their friendship survive the secrets and suspicions brewing between them?

Themes

FriendshipBest friendsDating (Social customs)Juvenile fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the complexities of friendship and trust as Bailey and Megan navigate online interactions and social challenges. Suitable for ages 9-12, it addresses themes of digital safety and peer relationships without graphic content. Parents should note the story includes some mild conflict related to online communication and misunderstandings among friends.

Why we rated TMI 12LE

TMI is written at a Level 7 reading level across 329 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, TMI works for readers up to grade 9.0.

We rate TMI as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, TMI explores friendship, best friends, dating (social customs), and juvenile fiction — 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, best friends, dating (social customs).

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

12LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Light
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
6
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

329 pages
ISBN
9781402273407
Pages
329
Publisher
Sourcebooks Fire
Published
2013
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Best FriendsFriendshipDating