What I call life
by Jill Wolfson
Square Fish 2008
Great fit for 4th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
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Genre
Themes
- foster care
- found family
- resilience
- friendship
- identity
- healing
- empathy
- storytelling
About this book
After her mother has a public meltdown, eleven-year-old Cal Lavender is placed in a group foster home run by a no-nonsense woman the girls call the Knitting Lady. Surrounded by other girls with big personalities and tough pasts, Cal slowly learns to trust, tell her story, and find humor in hard moments. The book blends realistic situations with warmth and wit, showing how friendship and small everyday acts can help kids heal. Perfect for middle-grade readers who like character-driven stories about resilience and found family.
Setting: a contemporary group foster home in an urban U.S. city
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is What I call life right for my child?
Yes — What I call life is a great fit for 4th grade. The reading level is AR 4.9, which is typical for 4th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include foster care, found family, resilience.
How long does it take to read What I call life?
At a typical 4th grade reading pace, What I call life takes around 6.5h to finish. The book has 58,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does What I call life have an AR quiz?
Yes — What I call life has an AR quiz available, worth 8 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is What I call life?
What I call life has an AR reading level of 4.9, which places it at a 4th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.