A new beginning
Michael R. Phillips
A new beginning
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Michael R. Phillips
Journals of Corrie & Christopher
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Christopher steps into his new role as the minister of Miracle Springs, embracing the challenges and hopes that come with leading a close-knit community. Meanwhile, Corrie navigates the changes in her life, discovering what it truly means to support her husband and find her own place in this fresh chapter. Together, they embark on a journey filled with faith, growth, and new beginnings.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 6-7 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include divorce & family change. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated A new beginning 11LE
A new beginning is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 231 pages (approximately 70,188 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A new beginning works for readers up to grade 8.2.
Read aloud, A new beginning runs about 7.8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate A new beginning as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Divorce & Family Change.
Thematically, A new beginning explores family, coming of age, religious themes, and community — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, religious themes.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 1556619332
- Pages
- 231
- Publisher
- Bethany House Publishers
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 70,188
- Read-Aloud
- ~7h 48m
- Text Density
- Dense