Gettysburg
Elyse Cregar
Gettysburg
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
By the Third Sun Setting
by Elyse Cregar
The text is written at a 4th 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
The echo of cannon fire rumbles through the smoky air, mixing with the sharp scent of gunpowder and the cries of soldiers. You can almost feel the ground tremble beneath your feet as history unfolds around you, filled with courage and heartbreak. This is a story that brings the past to life, making every moment unforgettable.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Gettysburg by Elyse Cregar immerses readers in the pivotal Civil War battle through vivid sensory details and emotional storytelling. Suitable for middle to high school readers, it offers a realistic portrayal of historical events, highlighting themes of bravery and the human cost of war. Parents should note the depiction of battle scenes and the emotional weight of conflict.
Why we rated Gettysburg 9ME
Gettysburg is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 180 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Gettysburg works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Gettysburg as 9ME ("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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Loss & Grief, Physical Danger, Realistic Violence.
Thematically, Gettysburg explores historical, coming of age, war & conflict, and family — 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.
- ✓ 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 historical, coming of age, war & conflict.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal 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
6/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780962129209
- Pages
- 180
- Publisher
- Tamerac Pub Co
- Published
- June 1988
- Type
- Fiction