We Were Once a Family
Roxanna Asgarian
We Were Once a Family
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America
by Roxanna Asgarian
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What happens when a family’s perfect picture hides a secret no one wants to see? Six children, adopted from different homes, lived with two moms who seemed loving—but dark truths started to surface. How far can a family’s love stretch when trust begins to break?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This nonfiction narrative explores the tragic story behind a 2018 murder-suicide involving an interracial adoptive family, revealing deep issues of abuse, neglect, and systemic failure within child welfare services. Suitable for ages 9-12 with guidance, the book handles mature themes like family trauma, racial bias, and institutional care sensitively but candidly. Parents should be aware that the content includes difficult topics such as child abuse and death, framed within investigative journalism.
Why we rated We Were Once a Family 12IE
We Were Once a Family is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, We Were Once a Family works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate We Were Once a Family as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Child Abuse, Death, Systemic Failure.
Thematically, We Were Once a Family explores interracial adoption, child welfare, family, social justice, and investigative journalism — 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 interracial adoption, child welfare, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
- 9781250321923
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Picador USA
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction