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Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months

Susan Paul

Cover of Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months

Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Susan Paul

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

James Jackson was no ordinary six-year-old; he was a scholar whose curiosity and obedience left a lasting mark on history. His story reveals how even the youngest voices can shine brightly in a world that often overlooks them. Discover why James’s life still matters today.

Themes

African American HistoryBiographyEducationSocial ConditionsComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This book shares the poignant memoir of James Jackson, a young African American boy in 19th-century Boston who demonstrated remarkable attentiveness and obedience before his untimely death. It provides historical insight into African American childhood, education, and social conditions during this era, making it suitable for middle-grade readers interested in history and biography. The content is gentle and appropriate for ages 9-12, with no intense themes but valuable cultural and historical context.

Why we rated Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months 9LE

Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 169 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Memoir of James Jackson, the attentive and obedient scholar, who died in Boston, October 31, 1833, aged six years and eleven months explores african american history, biography, education, social conditions, and coming of age — 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 african american history, biography, education.
  • Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Light
Thematic
Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
2
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
9
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

169 pages
ISBN
0674000927
Pages
169
Publisher
Harvard University Press
Published
2000
Type
Nonfiction

Genres

Subjects

Jackson, James, 1826-1833African American ChildrenMassachusettsBostonFree African AmericansEducation19th CenturySocial ConditionsAfrican Americans, BiographyAfrican American TeachersAfrican Americans, Massachusetts, BostonAfrican American StudentsAfrican Americans, History

People

James Jackson (1826-1833)

Places

BostonBoston (Mass.)Massachusetts