What reading level is Like a river?

Like a river by Kathy Canon Wiechman is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 750L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Like a river appropriate for?

Like a river is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Injury, Death, War-related peril.

What genre is Like a river?

Like a river is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Like a river have any content warnings?

Like a river has a HootRating of 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Injury, Death, War-related peril. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Like a river?

Like a river by Kathy Canon Wiechman is 336 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Like a river

Kathy Canon Wiechman

Like a river

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Civil War Novel

by Kathy Canon Wiechman

Reading Level 4-5 9IE Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

What would you do if you had to hide a big secret while fighting in a dangerous war? Imagine being a young soldier, pretending to be someone you're not, and facing battles that change everything. Can Leander and Polly survive the Civil War and discover what really matters?

Themes

Historical Friendship Family Coming of Age Adventure Social Justice

Quick Assessment

Like a River tells the story of two young Union soldiers during the Civil War who carry hidden truths—one is underage, and the other disguises herself as a boy to follow her father into battle. The novel explores themes of bravery, loss, and friendship against historical events like Andersonville Prison and the Sultana steamboat disaster. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a thoughtful portrayal of war's impact on youth, with some intense moments of injury and grief.

Why we rated Like a river 9IE

Like a river is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 750L across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Like a river works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Like a river as 9IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Injury, Death, War-related peril.

Thematically, Like a river explores historical, friendship, family, coming of age, 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.
✓ 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, friendship, family.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.