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Teen Shelf Help

A guide to help teens and their guardians find the books that are right for them.

How do I find out what books are right for my age or my teen's age? Novelist

NoveList is a database and resource for readers, librarians, and educators, offering a wealth of information about books and authors. It provides detailed summaries, reviews, recommendations, and other helpful information to assist users in finding their next great read. We also have NoveList connected to the Helen Hall Library catalog to provide more book information to you!

To find NoveList in the catalog, follow our step-by-step video below or our written instructions.

When you search for a book in the catalog, click on the title and scroll down. If you click the "Content from NoveList" tab, you can find the Lexile Measure and Accelerated Reader level.

The Lexile Measure determines the text difficulty and reader ability (reading comprehension), which helps young teens reading at a higher level and older teens reading at a lower level find books that fit their speed while still suiting their age.

Grade Level Age Range Lexile Range
Grades K-1

Ages 5-7

N/A

Grades 2-3

Ages 7-9

450L - 725L

Grades 4-5

Ages 9-11

645L - 845L

Grades 6-8

Ages 11-14

860L - 1010L

Grades 9-10

Ages 14-16

960L - 1115L

Grades 11-12

Ages 16-18

1070L - 1220L

Accelerated Reader levels determine the appropriateness (Interest Level or IL) and text difficulty (Book Level or BL) of books. The Interest Levels corresponds to grade levels: Lower Grades (K-3), Middle Grades (4-6), Upper Middles Grades (6+), and Upper Grades (9-12). The Book Level guides users to books at their reading level, and the formula is presented in a grade-level-scale. For example, a book with a level of 6.0 would be appropriate for the comprehension and skills of a typical of someone entering 6th grade.