Leroy And The Old Man (Point)
William E. Butterworth III
Leroy And The Old Man (Point)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by William E. Butterworth III
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What would you do if you saw something really scary happen right outside your home? LeRoy watches a dangerous gang hurt his elderly neighbor, and it changes everything. Now, he’s leaving the city behind for his grandfather’s quiet house—what new challenges will he face there?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Leroy And The Old Man follows a young boy who, after witnessing a violent crime in Chicago, moves to Mississippi to live with his grandfather. The story explores themes of crime, family, and adjusting to new environments, suitable for teens 13 and older. Parents should note the presence of violence and themes related to law and crime.
Why we rated Leroy And The Old Man (Point) 9ME
Leroy And The Old Man (Point) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Leroy And The Old Man (Point) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Leroy And The Old Man (Point) as 9ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence.
Thematically, Leroy And The Old Man (Point) explores family, law & crime, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, law & crime, coming of age.
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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal 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
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
- 9780590427111
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- January 1, 1980
- Type
- Fiction