What reading level is Turning things around?

Turning things around by Valerie Tripp is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 760L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Turning things around appropriate for?

Turning things around is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Turning things around?

Turning things around is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Turning things around have any content warnings?

Turning things around has a HootRating of 9LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Turning things around?

Turning things around by Valerie Tripp is 170 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Turning things around

Valerie Tripp

Turning things around

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Kit Classic

by Valerie Tripp

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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 mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Kit’s hands are busy fixing the broken radio as the news crackles through the static about jobs lost and families struggling. Outside, the world feels heavy with worry, but Kit believes she can make a difference. Just when she thinks she’s found a way to help, a surprising visitor arrives—what will happen next?

Themes

DepressionFamily HistoricalResilience

Quick Assessment

Turning Things Around follows Kit, a resourceful young girl facing the hardships of the Great Depression. Set in the 1930s, this middle-grade fiction explores themes of resilience, family support, and community during difficult times. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers historical context without intense emotional distress, making it a thoughtful read for children learning about this era.

Why we rated Turning things around 9LE

Turning things around is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 760L across 170 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Turning things around works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Turning things around as 9LE ("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, Turning things around explores depression, family, historical, and resilience — 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 depression, family, historical.