Faithful are the wounds.
May Sarton
Faithful are the wounds.
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by May Sarton
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if a brilliant professor's sudden choice shakes the quiet halls of a famous university? Imagine secrets and struggles hidden behind the classroom doors, where friendships and beliefs are tested. As the shock spreads, everything begins to change in ways no one expected.
Quick Assessment
Set in the 1950s academic world, this novel explores complex themes like political tension, mental health, and identity through the story of an English professor whose suicide deeply affects his community. Suitable for mature middle-grade readers, it addresses sensitive topics such as suicide and discrimination with thoughtful nuance. Parents should be aware of these heavier themes when considering this book for younger readers.
Why we rated Faithful are the wounds. 11IE
Faithful are the wounds. is written at a Level 6 reading level across 281 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Faithful are the wounds. works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Faithful are the wounds. as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Mental Health, Political Conflict, Identity & Self-Discovery.
Thematically, Faithful are the wounds. explores coming of age, friendship, family, social justice, and identity & self-discovery — 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.
- ✓ 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 coming of age, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0393084396
- Pages
- 281
- Publisher
- W. W. Norton
- Published
- 1972
- Type
- Fiction