Gangs
Rick Landre
Gangs
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Handbook for Community Awareness
by Rick Landre
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
Have you ever wondered why kids join gangs and what life inside a gang really looks like? Imagine walking the streets where secret signs and rituals rule the day, and every choice feels like a matter of survival. What happens when the line between friendship and danger starts to blur?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book explores the history and realities of street gangs in America, including the symbols and rituals that define them. It aims to educate young readers about social issues related to gangs and provides information on resources and organizations that help combat gang involvement. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book handles complex social topics with sensitivity and offers a starting point for discussions about safety and community.
Why we rated Gangs 11MP
Gangs is written at a Level 6 reading level across 288 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Gangs works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Gangs as 11MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Crime & Criminology, Social Issues, Mild Peril.
Thematically, Gangs explores adolescents, social issues, group psychology, and crime & criminology — 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 adolescents, social issues, group psychology.
- ✓ 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
11MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780816037247
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- Checkmark Books
- Published
- November 1997
- Type
- Nonfiction