We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(1) Sea Level
Jack and Ennis are high school dropouts, so they don't exactly use their words. And when they do, they certainly don't use ten-dollar ones. Proulx endeavors to keep that reading level intact even when they're not talking, and while she uses her words with a lot more power, she still keeps it simple. This isn't a story to make you go running for the dictionary every third word. You may find yourself reaching for the tissues, though.