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Getting thru to kids

Phillip Mountrose

Cover of Getting thru to kids

Getting thru to kids

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Problem Solving with Children Ages 6 to 18

by Phillip Mountrose

Reading Level 4-5 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

What if you could change a bad day into a great one just by understanding your feelings? Imagine learning secret steps that help you solve problems with friends, family, and at school. Changing negative thoughts into positive ones could make everything better—but will you take the challenge?

Themes

Problem SolvingInterpersonal CommunicationParent and ChildChild RearingFriendshipEmotional Intelligence

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book introduces five key steps for children to improve problem-solving skills, fostering trust, honesty, and positive attitudes in school and friendships. It encourages emotional intelligence by helping kids turn negative beliefs into positive ones, supporting healthier parent-child communication and self-esteem. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers practical strategies for creating harmony at home and building children’s confidence.

Why we rated Getting thru to kids 9C

Getting thru to kids is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 140 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Getting thru to kids works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Getting thru to kids as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, Getting thru to kids explores problem solving, interpersonal communication, parent and child, child rearing, and friendship — 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 problem solving, interpersonal communication, parent and child.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9C — Clear
Emotional
Clear
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Content Flags

Fear & Anxiety
Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
7
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

140 pages
ISBN
0965378772
Pages
140
Publisher
Holistic Communications
Published
1997
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Problem Solving in ChildrenInterpersonal Communication in ChildrenParent and ChildChild Rearing