A Time For Courage (Dear America Series)

Kathryn Lasky

A Time For Courage (Dear America Series)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The Suffragette Diary of Kathleen Bowen

by Kathryn Lasky

Reading Level 6 11LS Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

What if you were thirteen and the world around you was changing faster than you could keep up? Imagine living in Washington, D.C., in 1917, where people are fighting for women’s right to vote and a war is raging across the ocean. How would you find the courage to face your own challenges while history is being made?

Themes

Coming of Age FamilyHistorySocial JusticeWomen's SuffrageWar & Conflict

Quick Assessment

This historical fiction diary follows thirteen-year-old Kathleen Bowen as she navigates life in Washington, D.C. during 1917. The story touches on important themes such as the women's suffrage movement and World War I, while also exploring everyday family and school experiences. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a thoughtful look at a pivotal time in history with age-appropriate content.

Why we rated A Time For Courage (Dear America Series) 11LS

A Time For Courage (Dear America Series) is written at a Level 6 reading level across 228 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A Time For Courage (Dear America Series) works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate A Time For Courage (Dear America Series) as 11LS ("Light — Social") 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: Historical War Context, Social Change.

Thematically, A Time For Courage (Dear America Series) explores coming of age, family, history, social justice, and women's suffrage — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, family, history.

Maybe not for

! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

11LS — Light — Social

Emotional

Clear

Physical

Clear

Social

Light ←

Thematic

Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Content Flags

Historical War Context Social Change

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

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A Time For Courage

Kathryn Lasky