It's My Story
Kelly Brakenhoff
It's My Story
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Duke the Deaf Dog Series Chapter Book
by Kelly Brakenhoff
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Duke isn’t just any second grader—he’s a deaf dog with a big heart and an even bigger imagination. With his hearing aid and sign language, Duke shows that being different isn’t something to fix, but something that makes him truly special. What will Duke discover next about himself and the world around him?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This chapter book follows Duke, a deaf second grader, as he navigates school, friendships, and family life while embracing his unique identity. Suitable for ages 6-10, it promotes self-acceptance and inclusion by exploring Deaf culture and American Sign Language in an accessible way. The story also includes thoughtful questions to encourage empathy and reflection, making it a valuable read for young children learning about diversity.
Why we rated It's My Story 9LE
It's My Story is written at a Level 4-5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, It's My Story works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate It's My Story as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, It's My Story explores disability representation, family, friendship, education, and self-acceptance — 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 disability representation, family, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
- ISBN
- 9781957938141
- Publisher
- Emerald Prairie Press
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction