When We Lived with P
Stuart Buchan
When We Lived with P
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Stuart Buchan
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The creak of old wooden floors echoes through the dusty halls, mixing with the faint scent of forgotten stories. Tommy steps carefully into a world where silence feels heavy—but soon, laughter and friendship begin to fill the empty rooms. Sometimes, the loneliest places hide the warmest surprises.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Tommy, a lonely boy who discovers friendship and belonging when he explores an abandoned mansion. Suitable for ages 9-12, it gently addresses themes of loneliness and social connection without intense conflict or mature content. The story encourages empathy and the value of friendship in a relatable way.
Why we rated When We Lived with P 9LE
When We Lived with P is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 164 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, When We Lived with P works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate When We Lived with P as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, When We Lived with P explores friendship, social themes, and juvenile fiction — 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 friendship, social themes, juvenile fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780440494836
- Pages
- 164
- Publisher
- Yearling
- Published
- April 1, 1986
- Type
- Fiction