What reading level is Martín de Porres?

Martín de Porres by Gary D. Schmidt is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 640L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Martín de Porres appropriate for?

Martín de Porres is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 9LS (Light — Social). Content flags: Racial Discrimination, Poverty & Hardship.

What genre is Martín de Porres?

Martín de Porres is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction.

Does Martín de Porres have any content warnings?

Martín de Porres has a HootRating of 9LS (Light — Social). Content flags include: Racial Discrimination, Poverty & Hardship. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Martín de Porres?

Martín de Porres by Gary D. Schmidt is 32 pages (approximately 1,377 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Martín de Porres

Gary D. Schmidt

Martín de Porres

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

the rose in the desert

by Gary D. Schmidt

Reading Level 4-5 9LS Ages 5-8 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Follow the kind and brave Martín de Porres as he faces unfair treatment because of his background in old Peru. His story shows how kindness and faith can help overcome challenges and bring people together.

Themes

Christian saintsBiographyMulticultural Social Justice Family

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include racial discrimination, poverty & hardship. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated Martín de Porres 9LS

Martín de Porres is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 640L across 32 pages (approximately 1,377 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Martín de Porres works for readers up to grade 6.4.

Read aloud, Martín de Porres takes about 9 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Martín de Porres as 9LS ("Light — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Racial Discrimination, Poverty & Hardship.

Thematically, Martín de Porres explores christian saints, biography, multicultural, social justice, and family — 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 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about christian saints, biography, multicultural.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.