What if-- everyone was doing it
Liz Ruckdeschel
What if-- everyone was doing it
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a choose your destiny novel
by Liz Ruckdeschel
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
Making the perfect choice isn’t just hard—it can change everything. What if one decision could flip your whole school year upside down? This story shows why every choice matters more than you think.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows a fifteen-year-old girl navigating the challenges of popularity and decision-making during prom season. It explores themes of self-discovery and the consequences of choices in a relatable school setting, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note moderate emotional content related to typical adolescent uncertainties and social pressures.
Why we rated What if-- everyone was doing it 11ME
What if-- everyone was doing it is written at a Level 6 reading level across 264 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What if-- everyone was doing it works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate What if-- everyone was doing it as 11ME ("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, social complexity — 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 if-- everyone was doing it explores coming of age, popularity, friendship, school life, and plot-your-own stories — 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 coming of age, popularity, friendship.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780385735025
- Pages
- 264
- Publisher
- Delacorte Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction