What reading level is A time to keep silent?

A time to keep silent by Gloria Whelan is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is A time to keep silent appropriate for?

A time to keep silent is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Loss & Grief, Divorce & Family Change, Fear & Anxiety.

What genre is A time to keep silent?

A time to keep silent is fiction — Juvenile Nonfiction.

Does A time to keep silent have any content warnings?

A time to keep silent has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Loss & Grief, Divorce & Family Change, Fear & Anxiety. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is A time to keep silent?

A time to keep silent by Gloria Whelan is 131 pages.

A time to keep silent

Gloria Whelan

A time to keep silent

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gloria Whelan

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

Find on Amazon

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Clair stops talking—not because she wants to, but because she can’t. After her mom dies, silence becomes her way of coping, and it turns her world upside down. What happens when words disappear but feelings don’t?

Themes

Family Coming of AgeReligiousEmotional Healing

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the emotional journey of a thirteen-year-old girl coping with her mother's death and the resulting strain in her relationship with her minister father. The story thoughtfully addresses grief, family dynamics, and communication challenges, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should be aware of themes involving loss and emotional withdrawal.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9ME — Moderate — Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Clear

Social

Clear

Thematic

Clear

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Content Flags

Loss & Grief Divorce & Family Change Fear & Anxiety

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

6/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

Similar Books

Based on content and theme analysis

The rest is silence

Carla Guelfenbein

The rest is silence

Carla Guelfenbein

Level 6 Moderate

The quality of silence

Rosamund Lupton

The quality of silence

Rosamund Lupton

Level 6 Moderate

No Time to Say Goodbye

Sylvia Olsen

No Time to Say Goodbye

Sylvia Olsen

Level 4 Moderate

A swift pure cry

Siobhan Dowd

A swift pure cry

Siobhan Dowd

Level 7 Moderate

Remember the Secret

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Remember the Secret

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Level 2 Mild

Silent Angel

Melody Ravert

Silent Angel

Melody Ravert

Level 4 Mild

See all books like this →

Details

Book Length

131 pages

ISBN: 9780802852557
Pages: 131
Publisher: Eerdmans Young Readers
Published: 1979
Type: Fiction
Era: Vintage (1979)

Genres

Juvenile Nonfiction

Subjects

FamilyParentsReligiousSocial ThemesDeath, Grief, BereavementFriendshipGriefDeathHousehold MovingElective MutismMoving, HouseholdFathers and DaughtersMutism, ElectiveClergyCountry LifeSelective MutismMutismParent and Child