Kingsport
Howard Long
Kingsport
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Romance of Industry
by Howard Long
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What if a whole city was built from a bold idea, planned down to every detail? Imagine walking the streets of Kingsport as its story unfolds, from its earliest days to the booming industries that shaped its future. But how did this place become so extraordinary, and what secrets still linger beneath its surface?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Kingsport offers a richly detailed historical fiction narrative about the planned development of a Tennessee city, exploring its early history, major industries, and the people behind its growth. Suitable for teens aged 13 to 18, this book provides educational insights into local history with a focus on economic and social development. While fictionalized, it is grounded in thorough research and includes complex vocabulary appropriate for middle to high school readers.
Why we rated Kingsport 12C
Kingsport is written at a Level 7 reading level across 310 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kingsport works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Kingsport as 12C ("Clear") 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, Kingsport explores local history, biography / autobiography, historical, and science & nature — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about local history, biography / autobiography, historical.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
12C — ClearNo 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
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780932807892
- Pages
- 310
- Publisher
- The Overmountain Press
- Published
- October 1993
- Type
- Nonfiction