Going down.
David Markson
Going down.
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by David Markson
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
This story dares to unravel the tangled secrets behind a mysterious murder connecting New York and a distant Mexican village. The characters' choices twist like a triangle, pulling everyone into a web of suspense and danger. What happens next could change everything they thought they knew.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Going Down is a middle-grade fiction novel centered around a murder mystery that spans locations from New York to a Mexican village. The story explores complex interpersonal relationships and cultural settings suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the themes of crime and intrigue, but the content remains appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated Going down. 11ME
Going down. is written at a Level 6 reading level across 278 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Going down. works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Going down. as 11ME ("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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Going down. explores mystery, interpersonal relationships, cultural setting, and crime — 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 mystery, interpersonal relationships, cultural setting.
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
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 0030842816
- Pages
- 278
- Publisher
- Holt McDougal
- Published
- 1970
- Type
- Fiction