Colorado
Duane A. Smith
Colorado
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Our Colorful State
by Duane A. Smith
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Colorado is more than just a place on the map—it's a land where dinosaurs once roamed and brave women helped shape history. From ancient cliff dwellings to bustling railroads, this story reveals how many different people made Colorado the colorful state it is today—and their legacy still matters now.
Quick Assessment
This engaging historical book offers a comprehensive look at Colorado's past, from prehistoric times through the twentieth century, making it suitable for middle-grade readers. It highlights diverse groups such as Native Americans, explorers, settlers, and activists, providing educational value with supplementary maps, drawings, and photos. Parents should note that the content is factual and presented in an age-appropriate manner without graphic detail.
Why we rated Colorado 12C
Colorado is written at a Level 8 reading level across 415 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Colorado works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Colorado as 12C ("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, Colorado explores historical, multicultural, and family — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, multicultural, family.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780870815058
- Pages
- 415
- Publisher
- University Press of Colorado
- Published
- 1999
- Type
- Nonfiction