Need to Know Library Books in Order
Need to Know Library is a 4-book series by Claudia B. Manley for ages 13+, at a grades 6–8 reading level, with moderate to intense content (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5).
- Books
- 4
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Moderate to intense
- HootRated 3–4 out of 5 · avg 3.3
Need to Know Library Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Need to Know Library books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everything you need to know about drug abuse 1998 · Arthur Herscovitch | Level 6-7 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 2 | Everything you need to know when someone you know has been killed 1998 · Jay Schleifer | Level 6-7 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 3 | Everything You Need to Know About Custody 2000 | Level 8-9 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 4 | Everything you need to know about teens who kill 2000 · Jeffrey A. Margolis | Level 8-9 | 13+ | Intense |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Need to Know Library (4 books by Claudia B. Manley) lands at a grades 6–8 reading level, with average content intensity 3.3/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All Need to Know Library Books
Everything you need to know about drug abuse
Arthur Herscovitch
Everything you need to know about drug abuse
Arthur Herscovitch
Everything you need to know when someone you know has been killed
Jay Schleifer
Everything you need to know when someone you know has been killed
Jay Schleifer
Everything You Need to Know About Custody
Claudia B. Manley
Everything You Need to Know About Custody
Claudia B. Manley
Everything you need to know about teens who kill
Jeffrey A. Margolis
Everything you need to know about teens who kill
Jeffrey A. Margolis
Series Like Need to Know Library: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Importance Of by Eleanor H. Ayer 5 books · Grades 8–9 · gentle to intense content
- Incredibly Disgusting Drugs by Allan B. Cobb 4 books · Grades 7–9 · moderate to intense content
- Dune by Frank Herbert 7 books · Grades 7–9 · moderate to intense content
- Coping by Renea D. Nash 6 books · Grades 6–10 · mild to moderate content
- Old Man's War by John Scalzi 6 books · Grades 5–8 · moderate content
- In Their Own Words (Grolier) by Judith E. Greenberg 4 books · Grades 6–8 · mild to moderate content
Enjoy This Series in Other Languages
3 editions available in other languages.
es Spanish (3)
Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber Sobre El Matrimonio Adolescente (Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber / Need to Know (Spanish))
Eleanor H. Ayer
Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber Sobre El Matrimonio Adolescente (Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber / Need to Know (Spanish))
Eleanor H. Ayer
Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber Sobre La Paternidad Adolescente (Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber)
Eleanor H. Ayer
Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber Sobre La Paternidad Adolescente (Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber)
Eleanor H. Ayer
Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber Sobre Las Enfermedades De Transmisi-N Sexual (Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber / Need to Know (Spanish))
Samuel G. Woods
Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber Sobre Las Enfermedades De Transmisi-N Sexual (Todo Lo Que Necesitas Saber / Need to Know (Spanish))
Samuel G. Woods
Questions about the Need to Know Library series
- What reading level is the Need to Know Library series?
- Need to Know Library books are at a grades 6–8 reading level (average grade level 7.2), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 13+. There are 4 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Need to Know Library books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Need to Know Library books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Everything you need to know about drug abuse (1998); Everything you need to know when someone you know has been killed (1998); Everything You Need to Know About Custody (2000); Everything you need to know about teens who kill (2000).
- What age is the Need to Know Library series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Need to Know Library for ages 13+. Content is moderate to intense (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.