Waiting for you
Susane Colasanti
Waiting for you
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Susane Colasanti
The text is written at a 7th 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.
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About This Book
Marisa isn’t just any teenager—she’s brave enough to face her anxiety head-on while chasing a boyfriend and a social life. But when her plans don’t go as expected, she learns that growing up isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about discovering who you really are, and that makes all the difference.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Marisa, a fifteen-year-old high schooler with an anxiety disorder, as she navigates the challenges of dating and socializing. The story realistically portrays anxiety and the pressures of fitting in during adolescence, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the themes of mental health and interpersonal relationships addressed with sensitivity.
Why we rated Waiting for you 12ME
Waiting for you is written at a Level 7 reading level across 322 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Waiting for you works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Waiting for you as 12ME ("Moderate — 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 — 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, Waiting for you explores anxiety & mental health, friendship, coming of age, interpersonal relationships, and high school life — 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 anxiety & mental health, friendship, 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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" 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
- 9780670011308
- Pages
- 322
- Publisher
- Viking Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction