What reading level is What I came to tell you?

What I came to tell you by Tommy Hays is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 770L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is What I came to tell you appropriate for?

What I came to tell you is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is What I came to tell you?

What I came to tell you is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does What I came to tell you have any content warnings?

What I came to tell you has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. 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 I came to tell you?

What I came to tell you by Tommy Hays is 296 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

What I came to tell you

Tommy Hays

What I came to tell you

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Tommy Hays

Reading Level 4-5 9ME 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.

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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 9ME

What I came to tell you is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 770L across 296 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What I came to tell you works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate What I came to tell you as 9ME ("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, 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.
✓ 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 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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.