What you hide
Natalie D. Richards
What you hide
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Natalie D. Richards
The text is written at a 4th 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
Mallory finds refuge in her best friend's home and the local library as she escapes a threatening situation at home, determined not to live in fear. Spencer, fulfilling community service through his library volunteer work, discovers an unexpected connection with Mallory. When a mysterious death stirs eerie occurrences in the library, the pair must unravel unsettling secrets that challenge their sense of safety.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fear & anxiety, mild peril, loss & grief. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated What you hide 9ME
What you hide is written at a Level 4-5 reading level (approximately 78,328 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What you hide works for readers up to grade 6.3.
Read aloud, What you hide runs about 8.7 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate What you hide 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Mild Peril, Loss & Grief.
Thematically, What you hide explores friendship, coming of age, family, and mystery — 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.
- ! 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
9ME — Moderate — 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
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
- 9781492657187
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Published
- October/4/2018
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 78,328
- Read-Aloud
- ~8h 42m