I will stand with my father
Irene Fox Uttendorfsky
I will stand with my father
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Irene Fox Uttendorfsky
Illustrated by Kraeger, Allen A., illustrator
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
What would you do if your home became a battlefield? In the heart of the Mohawk Valley, families are torn apart as friends and neighbors choose sides in a fierce civil war. Who can you trust when the fight is not just for a country, but for your very survival?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during the 1777 siege of Fort Stanwix and the Battle of Oriskany, this historical fiction explores the complex divisions within the Mohawk Valley during the American Revolution. The story provides an accessible look at the difficult choices faced by colonists and Native Americans caught between loyalty and survival. Recommended for ages 9-12, it offers a thoughtful portrayal of civil conflict with moderate emotional depth and historical context.
Why we rated I will stand with my father 11ME
I will stand with my father is written at a Level 6 reading level across 203 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I will stand with my father works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate I will stand with my father 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, physical peril, social complexity — 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, I will stand with my father explores historical, battles, family, coming of age, and social justice — 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.
- ✓ 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, battles, family.
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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780984125913
- Pages
- 203
- Publisher
- Spruce Gulch Press
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction