Friend and foe
Chicago Crime Commission
Friend and foe
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Graphic Exhibits from the Chicago Crime Commission Archives
by Chicago Crime Commission
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
Sirens wail as shadows dart through the alley—gangs clash in the heart of Chicago, and every choice could change a life forever. In the middle of this chaos, secrets from the past whisper louder than ever. What will happen next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Friend and Foe offers a compelling look at the history of crime in twentieth-century Chicago through a decade-by-decade collection of archival media from the Chicago Crime Commission. Suitable for ages 9-12, it provides historical context on crime, gangs, and juvenile delinquency, with a final chapter highlighting the Commission's achievements. Parents should note its focus on crime-related themes presented in an educational, documentary style.
Why we rated Friend and foe 11MT
Friend and foe is written at a Level 6 reading level across 293 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Friend and foe works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Friend and foe as 11MT ("Moderate — Thematic") 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, physical peril, 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, Friend and foe explores crime, history, juvenile delinquents, gangs, and social justice — 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 crime, history, juvenile delinquents.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
11MT — Moderate — ThematicReal 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780978747152
- Pages
- 293
- Publisher
- Chicago Crime Commission
- Published
- 2007
- Type
- Nonfiction