Rising above Shepherdsville
Ann Schoenbohm
Rising above Shepherdsville
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Ann Schoenbohm
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
Have you ever had to find your voice when it feels like the whole world has gone silent? Twelve-year-old Dulcie Louise Dixon arrives at her aunt’s farmhouse with just a spelling bee trophy and a box of ashes, carrying a heart full of questions. What will she discover in the secret woods that could help her heal?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel sensitively explores the themes of grief and recovery as Dulcie Louise Dixon copes with her mother’s suicide. Set in 1977 Ohio, the story follows Dulcie’s emotional journey toward healing with the help of new friendships and self-discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a thoughtful look at loss and resilience, with content that may prompt conversations about mental health and family dynamics.
Why we rated Rising above Shepherdsville 12IE
Rising above Shepherdsville is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Rising above Shepherdsville works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Rising above Shepherdsville as 12IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Grief.
Thematically, Rising above Shepherdsville explores grief, family, friendship, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about grief, family, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481452830
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Beach Lane Books
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction