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Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691

Lisa Rowe Fraustino

Cover of Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691

Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials

by Lisa Rowe Fraustino

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Matched

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

Deliverance Trembley is just twelve, but she’s caught in one of the most frightening moments in history—the Salem witch trials. As her best friend is accused of being a witch, Deliverance’s diary reveals secrets and fears that shake her world. What happens when trust turns to terror, and how far will Deliverance go to hold on to hope?

Themes

HistoricalTrials (Witchcraft)PrejudicesFaithComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This historical fiction novel follows twelve-year-old Deliverance Trembley during the Salem witch trials of 1692, exploring themes of fear, faith, and injustice. It’s appropriate for middle-grade readers (ages 9-12) and offers a sensitive portrayal of prejudice and mass hysteria without graphic content. Parents should note the emotional tension related to accusations and the social dynamics of the Puritan community.

Why we rated Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691 11ME

Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691 is written at a Level 6 reading level across 203 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691 works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691 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, thematic difficulty — 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, Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691 explores historical, trials (witchcraft), prejudices, faith, and coming of age — 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.
  • Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
  • Kids drawn to stories about historical, trials (witchcraft), prejudices.

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 — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Moderate
Thematic
Moderate

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

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
5
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
9
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

203 pages
ISBN
0439249732
Pages
203
Publisher
Scholastic
Published
2004
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

TrialsMassachusettsSalemWitchcraftPuritansPrejudicesSistersDiariesColonial Period, Ca. 1600-1775United StatesColonial PeriodCa. 1600-1775

Places

Salem (Mass.)SalemMassachusetts