What I leave behind
Alison McGhee
What I leave behind
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Alison McGhee
The text is written at a 6th 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
The scent of fresh cornbread drifts through the air as Will walks the busy streets of Los Angeles, each step carrying the weight of memories he can't escape. He works at a Dollar store and carries a secret kindness in his heart, leaving little gifts for strangers and friends alike. But when he uncovers a painful truth about his best friend, everything Will thought he understood about grief and healing begins to change.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel thoughtfully explores grief and recovery following a parent's suicide, focusing on 16-year-old Will's journey through sadness and self-discovery. Told in a unique structure of 100 chapters with 100 words each, it addresses sensitive topics such as trauma and healing with emotional depth and subtlety, appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should be aware of themes involving suicide and sexual assault presented with care and recommend discussing these topics with children.
Why we rated What I leave behind 11IE
What I leave behind is written at a Level 6 reading level across 202 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What I leave behind works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate What I leave behind as 11IE ("Intense — 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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Sexual Assault, Grief.
Thematically, What I leave behind explores grief, suicide, single-parent families, friendship, and kindness — 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, suicide, single-parent families.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! 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
11IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781481476560
- Pages
- 202
- Publisher
- Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction