What reading level is What comes after?

What comes after by Steve Watkins is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 800L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is What comes after appropriate for?

What comes after is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Animal Mistreatment.

What genre is What comes after?

What comes after is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does What comes after have any content warnings?

What comes after has a HootRating of 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Animal Mistreatment. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is What comes after?

What comes after by Steve Watkins is 330 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

What comes after

Steve Watkins

What comes after

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Steve Watkins

Reading Level 5-6 10IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

The text is written at a 5th 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

Here’s a secret: Iris thought moving in with her Aunt Sue would be a fresh start after her dad passed away. But instead, she discovers that the farm animals need saving just as much as she does—but that’s only the beginning.

Themes

GriefChild AbuseTreatment AnimalsHousehold MovingDomestic Animals

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows sixteen-year-old Iris as she copes with the loss of her father and adjusts to a difficult new home with her aunt, who is abusive toward both Iris and the farm animals. The story sensitively explores themes of grief and abuse, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12 who can handle serious emotional content. Parents should note the presence of physical and emotional abuse as well as animal mistreatment.

Why we rated What comes after 10IE

What comes after is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 330 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What comes after works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate What comes after as 10IE ("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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Animal Mistreatment.

Thematically, What comes after explores grief, child abuse, treatment animals, household moving, and domestic animals — 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 grief, child abuse, treatment animals.

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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.