What We Did to Survive
Megan Lally
What We Did to Survive
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Megan Lally
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Salt sprays the air as dark clouds rumble overhead, and the wind whips against your skin. Four friends sail away from a sunny paradise, but the storm isn't just outside—it’s growing between them too. Can they weather the wild sea and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart?
Quick Assessment
This thrilling young adult novel follows four teens on a sailing trip in Mexico that quickly turns dangerous as a fierce storm approaches. Alongside the physical peril, the story explores complex social and emotional dynamics, including friendship, crushes, and family relationships. Recommended for ages 13 and up, the book contains suspenseful scenes and mature themes appropriate for middle and high school readers.
Why we rated What We Did to Survive 11ME
What We Did to Survive is written at a Level 6 reading level across 288 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What We Did to Survive works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate What We Did to Survive 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, physical peril, 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 We Did to Survive explores friendship, coming of age, family, adventure, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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 friendship, coming of age, family.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781728270173
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Published
- 2026-01-06
- Type
- Fiction