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)
(7) Snow Line
The writing in Just Listen isn't all that difficult to follow—the story is clearly written and told from the point of view of an engaging, smart narrator; there isn't much artistic license taken as far as grammar and sentence structure go. But that doesn't mean it's not a tough book to read in other ways.
The book deals with a lot of issues that aren't exactly appropriate for very young audiences—namely rape, familial issues, and eating disorders. It's not easy to read the details about Annabel's rape, or about how she found Whitney passed out on the floor after having vomited up blood. But the read is worth it because it deals with real life issues.