Lay my body on the line
Floyd Salas
Lay my body on the line
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Floyd Salas
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What happens when a quiet college campus explodes with protests? Roger Leon, caught in the middle of the San Francisco State riots, must face powerful changes and tough choices. Can he stand up for what he believes in when everything around him is falling apart?
Quick Assessment
Set during the turbulent student protests at San Francisco State College in the 1960s, this novel follows Roger Leon as he navigates the challenges of family loss, social unrest, and personal growth. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it includes mature themes such as violence and complex social issues, which are portrayed with historical significance and emotional depth. Parents should be aware of the book's treatment of intense topics like suicide, political conflict, and romantic elements.
Why we rated Lay my body on the line 11IE
Lay my body on the line is written at a Level 6 reading level across 206 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lay my body on the line works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Lay my body on the line as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence, Suicide, Romantic Content, Political Unrest.
Thematically, Lay my body on the line explores historical, family, social justice, coming of age, and romance — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, family, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0931676029
- Pages
- 206
- Publisher
- Y'Bird
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction