Holding up the earth

Dianne E. Gray

Cover of Holding up the earth

Holding up the earth

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Dianne E. Gray

Reading Level 5-6 Mild (Lvl 2) Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Hope, a fourteen-year-old girl, travels to her new foster mom's farm in Nebraska and uncovers the lives of four girls from different eras through diaries, letters, and stories. As she explores their experiences from 1869 to 1960, she connects deeply with the history and spirit of the land. This journey weaves together past and present, revealing the strength and hopes of young girls across generations.

Themes

Foster CareFamilyHistoricalFarm LifeComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include divorce & family change. Written for readers ages 9-12.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 2 — Mild
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Content Flags

Divorce & Family Change
Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

5/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
4
Narrative Pace
5
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
8

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Details

Book Length

210 pages
46,145 words
5h 8m read-aloud
ISBN
0618007032
Pages
210
Published
2000
Type
Fiction
Word Count
46,145
Read-Aloud
~5h 8m
Text Density
Standard

Genres

Subjects

Farm LifeNebraskaFrontier and Pioneer LifeFoster Home CareMothers and DaughtersLettersDiaries