Dust from old bones

Name: Dust from old bones
Author: Sandra Forrester
ISBN: 0688162029

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sandra Forrester

Reading Level 5-6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched Rich Discussion

The text is written at a 5th 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Thirteen-year-old Simone shares her thoughts and experiences growing up in Louisiana before the Civil War, revealing the complexities of race and identity in a world divided by color. Her diary offers a personal glimpse into the struggles and hopes of a young girl caught between two cultures. Journey through history as Simone navigates a society marked by unique social rules and challenges.

Themes

Race relationsComing of Age Multicultural Historical Family

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include racial discrimination, identity & self-discovery. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Dust from old bones ME (Moderate)

Dust from old bones is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 164 pages (approximately 30,058 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Dust from old bones on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Dust from old bones runs about 3.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Dust from old bones as ME (Moderate, mostly 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Racial Discrimination, Identity & Self-Discovery.

Thematically, Dust from old bones explores race relations, coming of age, multicultural, historical, and family — 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.
✓ Family book clubs, classroom read-alouds, and parents who want a strong conversation hook.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about race relations, coming of age, multicultural.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Moderate

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

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