What goes up
Wen Jane Baragrey
What goes up
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Wen Jane Baragrey
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Robyn Tinkerbell Goodfellow has a roof that catches everything—from lost socks to skydivers! But now, a rogue NASA satellite is hurtling straight toward her house, and only she knows it’s coming. Can Robyn find her missing dad in time to save her roof—and her name?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows Robyn, a quirky girl with the unusual middle name Tinkerbell and a magnet-like roof that attracts all sorts of odd things. When a falling NASA satellite threatens her home, Robyn embarks on a heartfelt journey involving family and identity. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of single-parent families and self-discovery with humor and relatable characters.
Why we rated What goes up 11LE
What goes up is written at a Level 6 reading level across 216 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What goes up works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate What goes up as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, What goes up explores family, identity & self-discovery, adventure, humor, and fiction — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, identity & self-discovery, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781524765811
- Pages
- 216
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction