Amistad's orphans

Benjamin N. Lawrance

Cover of Amistad's orphans

Amistad's orphans

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

An Atlantic Story of Children, Slavery, and Smuggling

by Benjamin N. Lawrance

Reading Level 7 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 7th 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.

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About This Book

Salt air stings your nose as the creaking ship rocks beneath your feet. The distant cries of children mix with the splash of waves, carrying stories from faraway lands. Imagine being taken from home, facing oceans of unknowns, yet finding hope to start anew.

Themes

HistorySlave TradeChild SlaveryOrphansComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This historical fiction tells the powerful story of six African children kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1839, detailing their harrowing journey across the Atlantic, legal battles in the United States, and eventual return to Africa. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book addresses the difficult themes of the slave trade and child slavery with sensitivity, providing an educational window into this painful chapter of history.

For Parents

Content Intensity

12ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Moderate
Thematic
Moderate

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

Content Flags

Slave Trade Child Slavery
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

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
6
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
7
World Scope
7
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

358 pages
ISBN
9780300198454
Pages
358
Publisher
Yale University Press
Published
2014
Type
Nonfiction

Genres

Subjects

Slave TradeChild SlavesAmistadOrphansChildrenHuman SmugglingSlavesChildren, AfricaSlave Trade, AfricaAfrica, Social ConditionsUnited States, Social ConditionsSocial ScienceSlaveryUnited States19th CenturyModern

Places

AmericaAfrica