Promises to keep
Thomas J. Fleming
Promises to keep
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Thomas J. Fleming
The text is written at a 7th 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
The Stapleton family lived through the Revolutionary War like no one else — not heroes or villains, just real people making impossible choices. Their stories reveal a world where nothing is simply right or wrong, and every promise made could change the future. Discover why their struggles still echo today.
Quick Assessment
This historical fiction offers a nuanced portrayal of the American Revolutionary War through the experiences of the fictional Stapleton family. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it presents complex themes like loyalty, moral ambiguity, and the realities of war in an accessible way. Parents should note the mature exploration of historical conflict, which may prompt thoughtful discussions.
Why we rated Promises to keep 12ME
Promises to keep is written at a Level 7 reading level across 349 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Promises to keep works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Promises to keep as 12ME ("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, Promises to keep explores family, historical, and coming of age — 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 family, historical, coming of age.
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
12ME — 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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0385135556
- Pages
- 349
- Publisher
- Doubleday Books
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction