Making of Citizens
David Buckingham
Making of Citizens
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Young People, Television News and the Limits of Politics
by David Buckingham
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if the world of politics felt like a TV show you didn’t want to watch? Meet young people who are tuning out and turning away from voting and political clubs. But what if this isn’t just boredom — what if it’s a sign of something bigger happening in how we all see our role in the world?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Making of Citizens explores why many young people today feel disconnected from politics, highlighting declining voter turnout and political party membership among youth. The book discusses the impact of media, popular culture, and journalism on this trend, making it a thoughtful read for middle-grade students interested in social studies and current events. Suitable for ages 9-12, it encourages reflection on civic responsibility without graphic or intense content.
Why we rated Making of Citizens 11MT
Making of Citizens is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Making of Citizens works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Making of Citizens as 11MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Making of Citizens explores youth, political activity, television broadcasting, social aspects, and civic responsibility — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about youth, political activity, television broadcasting.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11MT — Moderate — ThematicLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781857289909
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- Published
- 1999
- Type
- Fiction