Try
Dennis Cooper
Try
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dennis Cooper
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is very intense with mature or graphic material.
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About This Book
Ziggy ducks behind a crumbling wall, his heart pounding as shadows creep closer. His uncle’s secret world feels like the only place he can breathe — but tonight, something’s different. Who’s watching, and what will happen next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores heavy themes of abuse and complex family dynamics through the story of Ziggy, a teen navigating difficult relationships and personal challenges. The book includes mature content related to sexual abuse and drug use, making it suitable only for older, mature readers within the 9-12 age range. Parents should be aware of the sensitive subject matter before sharing this book with their children.
Why we rated Try 9VE
Try is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 199 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Try works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Try as 9VE ("Vivid — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Very Intense" range — very intense or graphic content — peril, violence, trauma, or mature themes treated head-on. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Sexual Abuse, Drug Use.
Thematically, Try explores abuse & trauma, family, and identity & self-discovery — 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 abuse & trauma, family, identity & self-discovery.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9VE — Vivid — EmotionalGraphic or sustained depictions of trauma, violence, or mature content.
Content Flags
Was our "Very Intense" 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
- 080211542X
- Pages
- 199
- Publisher
- Grove/Atlantic
- Published
- 1994
- Type
- Fiction