With You and Without You
Open Road Media 2014
Great fit for 4th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
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Genre
Themes
- grief and loss
- family bonds
- resilience
- coping with illness
- sibling relationships
- memory and healing
- financial hardship
- community support
About this book
Twelve-year-old Liza learns her father has less than a year to live, and her family sets out to make his remaining time full of love and everyday joys. After his passing, Liza discovers that grief doesn’t follow a schedule and that healing can be slow and complicated. This heartfelt, accessible novel gently explores loss, family bonds, and resilience. It’s a thoughtful read for middle graders ready to discuss big feelings and the ways families support one another.
Setting: contemporary suburban Northeast (family home and community, over the course of a year)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is With You and Without You right for my child?
Yes — With You and Without You is a great fit for 4th grade. The reading level is AR 4.7, 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 grief and loss, family bonds, resilience.
How long does it take to read With You and Without You?
At a typical 4th grade reading pace, With You and Without You takes around 3.9h to finish. The book has 35,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does With You and Without You have an AR quiz?
Yes — With You and Without You has an AR quiz available, worth 5 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 With You and Without You?
With You and Without You has an AR reading level of 4.7, 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.