What reading level is You've Found Oliver?

You've Found Oliver by Dustin Thao is at a Level 2-3 reading level. Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is You've Found Oliver appropriate for?

You've Found Oliver is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 7ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Loss & Grief, Romantic Content, Identity & Self-Discovery.

What genre is You've Found Oliver?

You've Found Oliver is fiction — Young Adult Fiction. Part of the Welcome Newcomers series.

Does You've Found Oliver have any content warnings?

You've Found Oliver has a HootRating of 7ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Loss & Grief, Romantic Content, Identity & Self-Discovery. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is You've Found Oliver?

You've Found Oliver by Dustin Thao is 289 pages (approximately 1,115 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

You've Found Oliver

Dustin Thao

You've Found Oliver

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Dustin Thao

Welcome Newcomers

Reading Level 2-3 7ME Ages 13+ Heads Up Page-Turner

The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

A year after losing his best friend, Oliver keeps sending messages to Sam's old phone number, never expecting a reply. When a stranger named Ben answers, a new connection sparks, leading to a heartfelt journey of love and healing. As their bond deepens, unexpected challenges arise that test their chance at happiness.

Themes

LGBTQ+ Representation Coming of Age Romance Friendship Family

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 2-3 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include loss & grief, romantic content, identity & self-discovery. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated You've Found Oliver 7ME

You've Found Oliver is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 289 pages (approximately 1,115 words). Strong independent readers around grade 3.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, You've Found Oliver works for readers up to grade 4.5.

Read aloud, You've Found Oliver takes about 7 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate You've Found Oliver as 7ME ("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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Romantic Content, Identity & Self-Discovery.

Thematically, You've Found Oliver explores lgbtq+ representation, coming of age, romance, friendship, and family — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about lgbtq+ representation, coming of age, romance.

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.