Faith for Exiles
David Kinnaman, Mark Matlock, Aly Hawkins
Faith for Exiles
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon
by David Kinnaman, Mark Matlock, Aly Hawkins
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
The air buzzes with the hum of glowing screens and endless notifications, a digital world as loud as a city at rush hour. Imagine trying to hold onto your faith when everything around you feels so noisy and confusing. But some young people are finding secret ways to stay strong and hopeful, even when it feels like they’re living far from home.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Faith for Exiles explores how young Christians today maintain their faith amid the challenges of a rapidly changing, technology-driven culture. Based on extensive research, it identifies five key practices that help nurture resilience and spiritual growth in middle-grade readers. Suitable for ages 9-12, this book offers hopeful insights into faith development in a complex digital world without graphic or sensitive content.
Why we rated Faith for Exiles 9LE
Faith for Exiles is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 151 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Faith for Exiles works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Faith for Exiles as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Faith for Exiles explores faith, resilience, technology and culture, coming of age, and spiritual growth — 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 faith, resilience, technology and culture.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Faith unplugged
Jason Jackson
Faith unplugged
Jason Jackson
Exiles
Katherine Barger
Exiles
Katherine Barger
Faith wish
James W. Bennett
Faith wish
James W. Bennett
Faith
Megan Howard, Jon Barrett
Faith
Megan Howard, Jon Barrett
Faith on Fire
Helen Turnbull
Faith on Fire
Helen Turnbull
In search of authentic faith
Steve Rabey
In search of authentic faith
Steve Rabey
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781567666076
- Pages
- 151
- Publisher
- Baker Books
- Published
- 2019-09-03
- Type
- Nonfiction