Farewell to Jim Crow
R. Kent Rasmussen
Farewell to Jim Crow
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Rise and Fall of Segregation in America
by R. Kent Rasmussen
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
The hum of bustling buses mixes with the clatter of footsteps on segregated sidewalks, where signs whisper rules that aren’t fair. Imagine walking through a world divided by invisible lines that decide where you can sit, learn, and live. Feel the courage rising as people stand up to change those old rules forever.
Quick Assessment
Farewell to Jim Crow offers a detailed exploration of segregation and civil rights in America, tailored for middle-grade readers. It covers key aspects of daily life affected by segregation, such as housing, education, and voting rights, supplemented with historical photos and maps. The book is appropriate for ages 9-12 and provides a thoughtful introduction to complex social history without graphic content.
Why we rated Farewell to Jim Crow 9MS
Farewell to Jim Crow is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 168 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Farewell to Jim Crow works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Farewell to Jim Crow as 9MS ("Moderate — Social") 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, Farewell to Jim Crow explores multicultural, historical, social justice, coming of age, 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.
- ✓ 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 multicultural, historical, social justice.
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
9MS — Moderate — SocialReal 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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0816032483
- Pages
- 168
- Publisher
- Facts on File
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Fiction