When the butterflies came
Kimberley Griffiths Little
When the butterflies came
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kimberley Griffiths Little
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
A moving story of a young girl's struggle with love, loss, family, and magic from author Kimberley Griffiths Little. Twelve-year-old Tara Doucet is coping with the death of her beloved grandmother and her mother's subsequent abandonment. When mysterious butterflies begin to arrive shortly after Grammy Claire's funeral, and a strange butler shows up to take Tara and her sister to Grammy Claire's house, Tara just knows Grammy Claire has left her a final mystery to solve. A stack of keys, notes from the beyond, and an ominous secret allow Tara to come to terms with her grandmother's death, the complexities of her family, and the powers of love and redemption.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 7 book. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated When the butterflies came Level 0
When the butterflies came is written at a Level 7 reading level across 327 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, When the butterflies came works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate When the butterflies came as Unrated because the content sits in the "Unrated" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the unrated intensity score.
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.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
Level 0 — UnratedThis book has not yet been rated for content intensity.
Was our "Unrated" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545425131
- Pages
- 327
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction