We Were Here
Matt de la Peña
We Were Here
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Matt de la Peña
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
Miguel isn’t just a kid in trouble—he’s a runaway with a secret that could change everything. Alongside two unlikely friends, he races down the California coast, chasing freedom and a fresh start. What they face next will test their courage and the bonds that hold them together.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Miguel, a boy sent to a group home after a traumatic event, who escapes with two companions on a journey down the California coast toward Mexico. The story explores themes of friendship, guilt, and family bonds, suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the presence of juvenile delinquency and runaways, handled with emotional depth but without graphic content.
Why we rated We Were Here 12ME
We Were Here is written at a Level 7 reading level across 370 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, We Were Here works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate We Were Here 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, thematic difficulty — 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, We Were Here explores friendship, family, coming of age, and survival — 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, 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.
- ! 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780385736671
- Pages
- 370
- Publisher
- Delacorte Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction