A Day at the Beach
Gary D Schmidt, Ron Koertge
A Day at the Beach
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gary D Schmidt, Ron Koertge
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
On a lively summer day by the shore, a group of kids from different backgrounds find their stories unexpectedly woven together through funny and heartwarming moments. Each character's unique perspective adds a fresh twist to their beachside adventures, making the day unforgettable for everyone involved.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated A Day at the Beach 9C
A Day at the Beach is written at a Level 4-5 reading level (approximately 34,203 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A Day at the Beach works for readers up to grade 6.2.
Read aloud, A Day at the Beach runs about 3.8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate A Day at the Beach as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, A Day at the Beach explores friendship, family, multicultural, humor, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, multicultural.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780063380929
- Publisher
- Clarion Books
- Published
- 2025-04
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 34,203
- Read-Aloud
- ~3h 48m