Police Under Fire
Ted Gottfried
Police Under Fire
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Ted Gottfried
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What happens when those who protect us face the toughest challenges? Imagine the police trying to keep everyone safe while also staying fair and honest. Can they find the right balance, or will things spiral out of control?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book explores the complex role of police officers, highlighting the challenge of maintaining public safety while preventing corruption and abuse within the force. Aimed at teens, it offers a thoughtful look at law enforcement and political freedom suitable for young adult readers interested in social issues and political science.
Why we rated Police Under Fire 9ME
Police Under Fire is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 128 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Police Under Fire works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Police Under Fire as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Police Under Fire explores political freedom & security, law enforcement, juvenile literature, and political science — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about political freedom & security, law enforcement, juvenile literature.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780761313137
- Pages
- 128
- Publisher
- Millbrook Press
- Published
- July 31, 2000
- Type
- Nonfiction