Disappear Home
by Laura Hurwitz
Albert Whitman & Company 2015
Easy read — content targets 9th–12th grade
Reading level 5.2 (5th grade) but themes aimed at ages 14+
Themes include healing from trauma, abuse and recovery
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Genre
Themes
- sisterhood
- found family
- healing from trauma
- abuse and recovery
- mental health
- freedom and self-determination
- coming of age
- 1970s counterculture
About this book
Set in 1970 as the hippie dream is fading, Disappear Home follows teen Shoshanna and her younger sister as they flee a crumbling commune ruled by their abusive father. With their fragile mother, they head to San Francisco and then to a quiet farm that offers safety and a chance to heal. As the girls build a new kind of family, they confront secrets, shifting loyalties, and the heavy weight of mental illness. It's a thoughtful, emotionally honest story for teens who like character-driven historical fiction about resilience and hope.
Setting: California and a rural farm, United States, 1970
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Disappear Home right for my child?
It depends — here's what to consider for Disappear Home. The reading level is AR 5.2, which is typical for 5th grade. The interest level is rated Upper Grades (9–12), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 14+ (9th–12th grade). Themes include sisterhood, found family, healing from trauma.
How long does it take to read Disappear Home?
At a typical 5th grade reading pace, Disappear Home takes around 5.9h to finish. The book has 58,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does Disappear Home have an AR quiz?
Yes — Disappear Home has an AR quiz available, worth 6 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 Disappear Home?
Disappear Home has an AR reading level of 5.2, which places it at a 5th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Upper Grades (9–12) — 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.