Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Before Social Media
Susan E. Hamen
Before Social Media
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Susan E. Hamen
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Discover how people stayed connected and shared stories long before social media took over. Explore the world of letters, newspapers, cameras, and other creative ways friends and families communicated in the past. A fun look at the different tools that helped people keep in touch and capture memories.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 3-4 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Before Social Media 8C
Before Social Media is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 32 pages (approximately 1,168 words). Strong independent readers around grade 4.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Before Social Media works for readers up to grade 5.7.
Read aloud, Before Social Media takes about 8 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Before Social Media as 8C ("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, Before Social Media explores history, communication, family, and learning — 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.
- ✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about history, communication, family.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the What Did We Do? series.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
7/10High engagement — fast-paced, fun, and hard to put down. Great for reluctant readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the What Did We Do? Series
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
What was it like before the telephone?
Humphrey, Paul
What was it like before the telephone?
Humphrey, Paul
Communication Then and Now (Then & Now (Lerner))
Communication Then and Now (Then & Now (Lerner))
Did You Hear the News?: History of Communication (Raintree Fusion: Social Studies)
Allison Lassieur
Did You Hear the News?: History of Communication (Raintree Fusion: Social Studies)
Allison Lassieur
Communication (Then and Now)
Vicki Yates
Communication (Then and Now)
Vicki Yates
How Does Social Media Work?
Nikole Brooks Bethea
How Does Social Media Work?
Nikole Brooks Bethea
Written communications
Gail Stewart
Written communications
Gail Stewart
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781644930441
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Focus Readers
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 1,168
- Read-Aloud
- ~8 min
- Text Density
- Picture-Heavy