What we left behind
Robin Talley
What we left behind
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robin Talley
The text is written at a 8th 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
What if the person you've always known starts to change in ways you never expected? Toni and Gretchen have been inseparable and in love, but when college pulls them apart, everything feels different. Can their love survive when they’re both discovering who they really are?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of self-discovery and identity through the story of Toni and Gretchen, a couple navigating the challenges of their first year apart at college. As Toni explores a new gender identity and Gretchen searches for her own sense of self, the book sensitively addresses questions around relationships, growth, and change. Suitable for ages 9-12, it provides an accessible entry point to LGBTQ+ topics with thoughtful, age-appropriate language.
Why we rated What we left behind 12IE
What we left behind is written at a Level 8 reading level across 405 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What we left behind works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate What we left behind as 12IE ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, What we left behind explores lgbtq+ representation, identity & self-discovery, coming of age, friendship, and family — 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 lgbtq+ representation, identity & self-discovery, coming of age.
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
12IE — Intense — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780373211753
- Pages
- 405
- Publisher
- Harlequin
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction