We were never here
Jennifer Gilmore
We were never here
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer Gilmore
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
Lizzie suddenly collapses, and everything changes in a heartbeat. She wakes up in a hospital, confused by a new illness she’s never heard of. Just then, Connor and his dog Verlaine enter her room—but what secret is Connor hiding?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows sixteen-year-old Lizzie as she copes with a sudden diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and the emotional challenges that come with it. The story explores themes of illness, young love, and personal secrets, offering a realistic portrayal of teenage experiences. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively handles complex emotional content without graphic detail.
Why we rated We were never here 12ME
We were never here is written at a Level 7 reading level across 300 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, We were never here works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate We were never 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 — 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 never here explores illness & injury, love, secrets, coming of age, and teenage 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 illness & injury, love, secrets.
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
- 9780062393609
- Pages
- 300
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction