Uses for boys

Name: Uses for boys
Author: Erica Lorraine Scheidt
ISBN: 9781250007117

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

[a novel]

by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

Reading Level 6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

The sharp scent of rain fills the air as Anna steps into the noisy school hallway, feeling the eyes of everyone on her. She knows how to make the boys around her do what she wants, but that power comes with a price. When a mysterious new friend and a kind boy from a warm family enter her world, everything Anna thought she knew starts to change.

Challenged Book

About & Banning Context

Ages 9–12

In 'Uses for Boys', Anna reflects on her childhood when life was simpler and her family consisted solely of her and her mother. As her mother becomes increasingly preoccupied with new relationships and stepfathers, Anna feels abandoned and turns to boys for companionship. She learns that by catering to their desires, she can fill her own emotional void, but this comes at a cost—she faces ridicule from peers and is labeled negatively by other girls. A new friend, Toy, offers a different perspective on loneliness, but Toy harbors her own secrets. When Anna meets Sam, a boy who represents a genuine connection and a loving family dynamic, she begins to understand the complexities of love and the significance of vulnerability. This narrative explores themes of identity, relationships, and the quest for belonging.

Key Themes

identity family conflict loneliness relationships self-worth

Reviewed By

Kirkus ★ Booklist

Source: Unite Against Book Bans — Uses for boys

Themes

Friendship Family Coming of AgeInterpersonal RelationsMothers and Daughters

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores complex social dynamics through the eyes of Anna, a girl who uses manipulation to navigate relationships but faces challenges as she forms new friendships. The story touches on themes of honesty, family structures, and interpersonal growth, suitable for ages 9 to 12. Parents should be aware of mature themes such as dating and complicated family situations, but these are handled thoughtfully within the narrative.

Why we rated Uses for boys ME (Moderate)

Uses for boys is written at a Level 6 reading level across 229 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Uses for boys on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Uses for boys as ME (Moderate, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

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

Thematically, Uses for boys explores friendship, family, coming of age, interpersonal relations, and mothers and daughters — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, coming of age.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Moderate

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

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