Self and school sucess [sic]
Edwin William Farrell
Self and school sucess [sic]
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Voices and Lore of Inner-City Students
by Edwin William Farrell
The text is written at a 4th 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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What does it really take to succeed in school when things feel tricky? Imagine hearing stories straight from kids who face social challenges but find ways to shine. Their voices reveal secrets about teachers, friends, and choices that could change everything—but what happens next?
Quick Assessment
This book presents firsthand accounts from students with social disabilities discussing their experiences in school and community settings in New York. It explores important topics such as academic success, the role of teachers and parents, peer influence, and social challenges including drugs and violence. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it offers insight into identity and personal growth with sensitive handling of complex social issues.
Why we rated Self and school sucess [sic] 9ME
Self and school sucess [sic] is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 173 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Self and school sucess [sic] works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Self and school sucess [sic] 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Drugs, Violence, Sexuality.
Thematically, Self and school sucess [sic] explores disability representation, identity & self-discovery, family, social justice, and friendship — 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 disability representation, identity & self-discovery, family.
- ✓ 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.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! 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.
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
School success for kids with ADHD
Stephan M. Silverman
School success for kids with ADHD
Stephan M. Silverman
School Success for Children with Special Needs
Amy James
School Success for Children with Special Needs
Amy James
Schools for marginalized youth
William T. Pink
Schools for marginalized youth
William T. Pink
Self Efficacy
Joanne Eisenberger
Self Efficacy
Joanne Eisenberger
Student success modeling
Raymond V. Padilla
Student success modeling
Raymond V. Padilla
Ensuring success for all students
John W. Dougherty
Ensuring success for all students
John W. Dougherty
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780791418451
- Pages
- 173
- Publisher
- SUNY Press
- Published
- 1994
- Type
- Nonfiction