To All The Boys I've Loved Before ~ Jenny Han
Holy cannoli! It’s been WAY too long since I’ve posted about my current read. And that, honestly, is because I haven’t been reading enough! This year, I’ve taken on some part-time work, and balancing it all has been TOUGH. Tough, but worth it because the work makes me very happy. And I do feel like I’ve finally figured out a new routine, and I’m back in my groove!
I took some time to just read today. For like, several hours in that sunny spot on the couch. Do you know the one I’m talking about? Wow, it felt good! And it was my reminder to spontaneously extend independent reading time in my classroom because making time to immerse yourself in a good book is possibly THE most relaxing and amazing feeling.
Speaking of a relaxing and amazing--To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was great! I have a strange aversion to romance because I feel silly about being drawn in, but I’ve been on a romance kick because many of my students wanted more of these titles. Honestly, after two chapters, I was hooked with this one.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is Han’s first book in her trilogy, and features protagonist Lara Jean, the middle sister in her family. When Lara Jean’s mom passed away years ago, her older sister, Margot, took on the role of mother and head of the household. But when Margot leaves for her freshman year of college, Lara Jean has to own more responsibility.
That felt hard enough before every secret love letter she’d ever written to her crushes got accidentally mailed out. Without the guidance of Margot, Lara Jean finds herself in a tangle of lies and mixed emotions as she tries to hide and explain the content of her letters. And though Lara Jean partially wants everything to go back to the way it was, she also knows she needs to grow up and be brave.
This novel was so captivating for me because it was as much about love as it was about being yourself and being unafraid to take healthy risks. Lara Jean is a character who readers will simultaneously relate to and be frustrated by. She is endearingly imperfect; and her boy drama, sister troubles, and teenage woes will rope readers in. I highly recommend this book for ages 12+.
Maturity: 2/4
There is mention of sex in this novel multiple times, but it never takes place during the novel, nor is it described in any detail. The most it is mentioned is on page 160, so I suggest previewing the page if you have any hesitations about recommending the novel. I feel this novel is appropriate for readers age 12+.
Pages: 353
Lexile: HL630L
HL stands for “high level,” meaning that this novel’s content is more mature than the reading level indicates.
Lexile is a score that helps educators and parents match students with an appropriate text. A Lexile score is a measure of both a child’s reading ability and a text difficulty. However, Lexile does not take into account the content of a novel. So, pairing readers with a text is a complex process, and knowledge of a novel’s themes and plot is necessary to make a high-quality recommendation.
If you are curious about the grade-level equivalent to Lexile scores, check out the conversion chart here!
♥ RileyReadsYA ♥