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My Body My Choice

Robin Stevenson

Cover of My Body My Choice

My Body My Choice

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The Fight for Abortion Rights

by Robin Stevenson

Reading Level 4-5 9IS 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

Here's a secret: your body belongs to you and you have the power to make choices about it. But did you know people everywhere are still fighting over these rights? This story uncovers why standing up for yourself is just the start of a much bigger journey.

Quick Assessment

This nonfiction book introduces middle-grade readers to the complex and sensitive topic of abortion rights and reproductive justice. It is designed for ages 9-12 and approaches the subject with care, offering historical context and current perspectives to foster understanding. Parents should note the mature theme but appreciate its educational value in discussing bodily autonomy and social justice.

Why we rated My Body My Choice 9IS

My Body My Choice is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, My Body My Choice works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate My Body My Choice as 9IS ("Intense — Social") 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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Abortion.

Thematically, My Body My Choice explores social justice, coming of age, 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 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 social justice, coming of age, family.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9IS — Intense — Social
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Clear
Social
Intense
Thematic
Moderate

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

Content Flags

Abortion
Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

5/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

176 pages
ISBN
9781459817135
Pages
176
Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Published
2019
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Abortion