What reading level is Gangs?

Gangs by Gail Stewart is at a Level 5 reading level. Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

Gangs is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Other America series.

How many pages is Gangs?

Gangs by Gail Stewart is 96 pages (approximately 26,624 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Gangs

Gail Stewart

Gangs

Q: What age is Gangs appropriate for?

Gangs is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Social: Poverty & Hardship, Social: Racial Discrimination.

Q: Does Gangs have any content warnings?

Gangs has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Social: Poverty & Hardship, Social: Racial Discrimination. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gail Stewart

Other America

Reading Level 5 10ME Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Explore the complex world of American gangs through the eyes of four young members who share their personal stories and perspectives. Discover how their backgrounds shape their experiences and what gangs mean to them beyond the headlines. This insightful narrative offers a rare glimpse into the challenges and realities faced by youth involved in gang life.

Themes

Social Justice Identity & Self-Discovery Family Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include emotional: identity & self-discovery, emotional: fear & anxiety, social: poverty & hardship. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Gangs 10ME

Gangs is written at a Level 5 reading level across 96 pages (approximately 26,624 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Gangs works for readers up to grade 7.0.

Read aloud, Gangs runs about 3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Gangs as 10ME ("Moderate — 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: Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Social: Poverty & Hardship, Social: Racial Discrimination.

Thematically, Gangs explores social justice, identity & self-discovery, family, and coming of age — 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 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about social justice, identity & self-discovery, family.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 7 more books in the Other America series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.