Lawman
Calvin Sims
Lawman
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Calvin Sims
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
Discover the incredible journey of a former slave who rises to become a renowned lawman in the Old West. Courage and determination guide him through challenges that test his strength and honor. Experience a story of bravery, justice, and resilience in a time of great change.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include animals die, animal abuse, stalking. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Lawman 11MP
Lawman is written at a Level 6 reading level (approximately 4,129 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lawman works for readers up to grade 8.0.
Read aloud, Lawman takes about 28 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Lawman as 11MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Animals Die, Animal Abuse, Stalking, Gun Violence.
Thematically, Lawman explores historical, coming of age, social justice, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, coming of age, social justice.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal 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
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781604580747
- Published
- 2007-10-01
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 4,129
- Read-Aloud
- ~28 min