Gather Together in My Name
Tracy Price-Thompson
Gather Together in My Name
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Tracy Price-Thompson
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What happens when the choices you make in a tough neighborhood change everything? Shyne Blackwood grows up in a place where danger and loyalty collide, and soon he's caught in a mystery that could change his fate forever. But can the truth bring hope before the final moment arrives?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores complex themes of family, loyalty, and justice through the story of Shyne Blackwood, a boy growing up in a challenging urban environment. It addresses heavy topics such as crime, wrongful accusations, and the search for truth, making it suitable for mature readers ages 11-12 who can handle intense emotional content. Parents should be aware of sensitive themes including violence and wrongful conviction.
Why we rated Gather Together in My Name 11IE
Gather Together in My Name 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, Gather Together in My Name works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Gather Together in My Name 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Physical/Safety: Realistic Violence, Physical/Safety: Physical Danger.
Thematically, Gather Together in My Name explores family, coming of age, social justice, multicultural, and literary criticism — 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 family, coming of age, social justice.
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.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Let the Circle Be Unbroken
Mildred D. Taylor
Let the Circle Be Unbroken
Mildred D. Taylor
Gather
Kenneth M. Cadow
Gather
Kenneth M. Cadow
Streets of death inside the Black community
Norman V. Colbert
Streets of death inside the Black community
Norman V. Colbert
Gathering Light
Jennifer Donnelly
Gathering Light
Jennifer Donnelly
The gathering dark
Christine Johnson
The gathering dark
Christine Johnson
A Time to Kill
Unknown
A Time to Kill
Unknown
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781416533047
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- Atria Books
- Published
- May 20, 2008
- Type
- Fiction