You're dead, David Borelli
Susan M. Brown
You're dead, David Borelli
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Susan M. Brown
The text is written at a 4th 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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What happens when everything you know suddenly disappears? David’s cozy world shatters when his mom dies and his dad vanishes, leaving him to face a tough new life in a foster home and a school full of bullies. Can David find a way to stand strong when it feels like the whole world is against him?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the challenges faced by David, a boy who experiences significant family upheaval after the loss of his mother and the disappearance of his father. Set against the backdrop of foster care, school struggles, and bullying, the story deals with themes of resilience and self-discovery appropriate for ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the realistic portrayal of family change and social difficulties, which are handled thoughtfully.
Why we rated You're dead, David Borelli 9IE
You're dead, David Borelli is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 155 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, You're dead, David Borelli works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate You're dead, David Borelli as 9IE ("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, You're dead, David Borelli explores foster care, bullying, family, school life, and sports — 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 foster care, bullying, 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
9IE — 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Bullyville
Francine Prose
Bullyville
Francine Prose
About David
Susan Beth Pfeffer
About David
Susan Beth Pfeffer
All that remains
Bruce Brooks
All that remains
Bruce Brooks
David's Big Break
Charmaine Loever
David's Big Break
Charmaine Loever
I Heard Your Mommy Died
Mark Scrivani
I Heard Your Mommy Died
Mark Scrivani
Children in foster care
David Fanshel
Children in foster care
David Fanshel
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0689319592
- Pages
- 155
- Publisher
- Atheneum Books
- Published
- 1995
- Type
- Fiction