Like a river

Name: Like a river
Author: Kathy Canon Wiechman
ISBN: 9781629792095

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Civil War Novel

by Kathy Canon Wiechman

Reading Level 4-5 ME · Moderate · Emotional 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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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 ME (Moderate)

Like a river is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 336 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Like a river on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Like a river as ME (Moderate, mostly 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.
✓ 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.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Intense ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Mild

Thematic

Moderate

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.