Holding on
Donna Sharp
Holding on
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Donna Sharp
The text is written at a 4th 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
The air trembles with tension as a door slams shut behind you. Voices rise, and you can feel hearts pounding in the silence that follows. What will happen when families change, and secrets begin to slip through the cracks?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the emotional challenges faced by children during family changes like remarriage. Set in Australia, it thoughtfully addresses parent-child relationships and the conduct of life through relatable characters, suitable for readers around ages 9 to 12. The story gently handles emotional struggles without graphic content, making it an insightful read for children navigating similar experiences.
Why we rated Holding on 9ME
Holding on is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 137 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Holding on works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Holding on 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 — 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, Holding on explores emotional problems, parent and child, remarriage, conduct of life, and australia — 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 emotional problems, parent and child, remarriage.
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
9ME — 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0702226823
- Pages
- 137
- Publisher
- University of Queensland Press(Australia)
- Published
- 1994
- Type
- Fiction