Used to be
Eileen Cook
Used to be
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Education of Hailey Kendrick; Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood
by Eileen Cook
The text is written at a 8th 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 if you had to keep up the perfect image all the time, but one angry moment changes everything? Imagine going back to school and seeing your old best friend, who you hurt badly years ago, now ready to get even. How will you face the past when secrets and friendships are on the line?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and social challenges at a boarding school. It follows a high school senior who struggles with her identity after a conflict with her father and the return of a former best friend seeking revenge. Suitable for ages 9-12, it touches on complex social issues with humor and emotional depth.
Why we rated Used to be 12LE
Used to be is written at a Level 8 reading level across 521 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Used to be works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Used to be 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, Used to be explores friendship, coming of age, family, humor, and social justice — 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 friendship, coming of age, family.
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 — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781442475144
- Pages
- 521
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction