Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat
Morris A. Pierce
Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
And the Development of the Steamboat (The Library of American Lives and Times)
by Morris A. Pierce
The text is written at a 4th 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
Robert Fulton changed the way boats travel forever by inventing the steamboat. His brilliant ideas powered ships across rivers and oceans, making travel faster and easier. Discover how one man's invention shaped the future of transportation and why it still matters today.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade biography explores the life and achievements of Robert Fulton, focusing on his development of the steamboat. Suitable for ages 9-12, it highlights key moments in Fulton's inventive journey and his impact on transportation history. The book contains no intense content, making it an educational and inspiring read for young readers interested in science and invention.
Why we rated Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat 9C
Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat as 9C ("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, Robert Fulton and the Development of the Steamboat explores inventors, biography & autobiography, science & technology, united states, and history — 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 inventors, biography & autobiography, science & technology.
- ✓ 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
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780823957378
- Pages
- 112
- Publisher
- The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
- Published
- August 2003
- Type
- Nonfiction