Old World and America

Philip J. Furlong

Old World and America

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Philip J. Furlong

Reading Level 5 10C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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

Hear the clatter of ancient chariots and the whispers of medieval cathedrals as you travel through time. Feel the warmth of Renaissance sunlight and the salty breeze of new shores as history unfolds around you. Discover how the stories of old connect to the birth of America in a journey full of wonder and faith.

Themes

History - GeneralReligion - ChristianityFamilyEducation

Quick Assessment

This book offers a comprehensive overview of Western history from the earliest civilizations through the Renaissance and the discovery of America, with a focus on Christian and Catholic perspectives. It is well-suited for middle-grade readers, particularly those in Catholic homeschooling environments, and provides age-appropriate content that integrates religious and historical education. Parents should note the book’s emphasis on Christianity as a central theme throughout the historical narrative.

Why we rated Old World and America 10C

Old World and America is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Old World and America works for readers up to grade 7.0.

We rate Old World and America as 10C ("Clear") 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, Old World and America explores history - general, religion - christianity, family, and education — 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 history - general, religion - christianity, family.
✓ 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

10C — Clear

Emotional

Clear

Physical

Clear

Social

Clear

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

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

unknown author

Level 7

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Details

ISBN: 9780613905336
Publisher: Turtleback
Published: December 1996
Type: Nonfiction

Subjects

ReligionChristianityRoman Catholic