Colliers row
Jan Webster
Colliers row
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jan Webster
The text is written at a 6th 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
Here’s a secret: Kate Kilgour faced heartbreak and hardship that would have stopped anyone else. Left to raise her son alone and fight against unfairness, she never gave up. But that’s only the beginning of her family's incredible journey.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows Kate Kilgour as she confronts personal betrayal, poverty, and social challenges in a mining community. The book explores themes of resilience, family strength, and overcoming adversity, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the story involves complex social issues like economic hardship and abandonment, presented in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Colliers row 11ME
Colliers row is written at a Level 6 reading level across 276 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Colliers row works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Colliers row as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Colliers row explores family, coming of age, historical, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 family, coming of age, historical.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0002224917
- Pages
- 276
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 1977
- Type
- Fiction