What I came to tell you

Name: What I came to tell you
Author: Tommy Hays
ISBN: 9781606844335

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Tommy Hays

Reading Level 4-5 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Have you ever felt like your world is falling apart? Grover’s mom has just died, and now he’s left to take care of his little sister while his dad hides from the pain. What mysterious new neighbors might help them heal, and can Grover’s art bring his family back together?

Themes

GriefFamilyArtCommunityComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Grover as he navigates the loss of his mother and the strain it places on his family. Set in North Carolina, the story explores themes of grief, family dynamics, and healing through community and creativity. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a sensitive portrayal of loss with no intense content, making it an appropriate and meaningful read for children dealing with similar emotions.

Why we rated What I came to tell you ME (Moderate)

What I came to tell you is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 296 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage What I came to tell you on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate What I came to tell you as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, What I came to tell you explores grief, family, art, community, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about grief, family, art.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?