Up where I used to live
Schott, Max.
Up where I used to live
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Stories
by Schott, Max.
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
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to return to a place full of memories and face the stories that shaped you? Imagine stepping back into a world where every friend, every challenge, and every secret waits just beneath the surface. But what happens when the past and present collide in unexpected ways?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This collection of literary fiction stories by Max Schott explores themes of memory, relationships, and personal growth through a series of interconnected narratives. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it offers thoughtful, age-appropriate reflections on family and friendship without graphic content or mature themes. The stories provide gentle challenges to young readers’ emotional understanding while remaining accessible.
Why we rated Up where I used to live 9LE
Up where I used to live is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 159 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Up where I used to live works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Up where I used to live 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, Up where I used to live explores family, friendship, coming of age, and literary 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 family, friendship, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0252007190
- Pages
- 159
- Publisher
- Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c1978, 1979 printing.
- Published
- 1979
- Type
- Fiction