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Cover of Measuring Up

Age rating and parents' guide:Measuring Up

by Lily LaMotte

Ages 9–14

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte is best for children aged 9–14. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.

Having recently moved from Taiwan to Seattle, twelve-year-old Cici misses her beloved grandmother A-má terribly. Desperate to buy A-má a plane ticket for her seventieth birthday, Cici enters a local kids' cooking competition with a grand cash prize. The catch: she only knows traditional Taiwanese recipes, but the judges want creative fusion and American-style dishes. Readers will cheer for Cici as she navigates cultural identity, middle school friendships, and delicious recipes in this warm and relatable graphic novel.

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Content ratings

How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.

Violence
None
Scary moments
None
Romance
None
Bad language
None
Dhiraj Bodade

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on 21 September 2026.

At a glance

  • ★Graphic novel
  • ★Easy to get into from the first page
  • ★Pictures on almost every page
  • ★Emotionally light
  • ★A good pick for reluctant readers

Great for kids who like

  • Cooking

Reading mood

  • Playful

Good to talk about

  • Family

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  • Cover of Smile

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Questions parents ask

Q: What age is Measuring Up for?
Measuring Up suits children aged 9–14. It is a graphic novel: easy to get into from the first page, pictures on almost every page.
Q: Is Measuring Up appropriate for a 9 year old?
Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–14. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.
Q: What should my child read after Measuring Up?
Try Ghosts, Akbar (Amar Chitra Katha) and Smile. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.
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