Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
How it feels to have a gay or lesbian parent
Judith E. Snow
How it feels to have a gay or lesbian parent
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Book by Kids for Kids of All Ages
by Judith E. Snow
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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
Voices fill the room—kids just like you sharing what it’s really like to have a gay or lesbian parent. Some stories burst with hope, others echo with the sting of hurt and confusion. What happens when love doesn’t look the way the world expects?
Quick Assessment
This book presents firsthand accounts from children and young adults with gay or lesbian parents, sharing their experiences of prejudice, family changes, and personal growth. It addresses themes of identity, acceptance, and the impact of societal attitudes, making it a sensitive and insightful read suited for ages 9-12. Parents should note it candidly explores challenges around family dynamics and discrimination but ultimately offers messages of tolerance and understanding.
Why we rated How it feels to have a gay or lesbian parent ME (Moderate)
How it feels to have a gay or lesbian parent is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 110 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage How it feels to have a gay or lesbian parent on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate How it feels to have a gay or lesbian parent as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying, Divorce & Family Change, Fear & Anxiety, Identity & Self-Discovery, Social Discrimination.
Thematically, How it feels to have a gay or lesbian parent explores family, identity & self-discovery, social justice, multicultural, and coming of age — 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 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Family book clubs, classroom read-alouds, and parents who want a strong conversation hook.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, identity & self-discovery, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
ME · Moderate · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Real 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
Discussion Potential
8/10Rich themes that spark meaningful family conversation. Great for book clubs and read-alouds.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781560234203
- Pages
- 110
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Published
- 2004
- Type
- Fiction