Crisis intervention and suicide prevention
Gary A. Crow
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Working with Children and Adolescents
by Gary A. Crow
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.
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About This Book
What happens when someone feels so sad they don’t want to live anymore? Imagine trying to help a friend who’s in deep trouble but the grown-ups around don’t want to listen. Can you find a way to make a difference when everyone else is giving up?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book explores the serious topic of suicidal behavior and crisis intervention among youth in the United States. It sensitively addresses the challenges of helping children in crisis, including difficulties with uncooperative parents and the importance of mental health support. Suitable for ages 9-12, it aims to raise awareness while encouraging empathy and understanding.
Why we rated Crisis intervention and suicide prevention 9ME
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 134 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Crisis intervention and suicide prevention works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Crisis intervention and suicide prevention as 9ME ("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 — 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, Crisis intervention and suicide prevention explores mental health, crisis intervention, youth, family, and social challenges — 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 mental health, crisis intervention, youth.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
9ME — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0398053375
- Pages
- 134
- Publisher
- Charles C. Thomas Publisher
- Published
- 1987
- Type
- Nonfiction