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Self and school sucess [sic]

Edwin William Farrell

Cover of Self and school sucess [sic]

Self and school sucess [sic]

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Voices and Lore of Inner-City Students

by Edwin William Farrell

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

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.

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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 — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Moderate
Thematic
Moderate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Content Flags

Drugs Violence Sexuality
Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

5/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
9
World Scope
5
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

173 pages
ISBN
9780791418451
Pages
173
Publisher
SUNY Press
Published
1994
Type
Nonfiction

Genres

Subjects

Children With Social DisabilitiesNew YorkAttitudesEducationInterviewsIdentityEgoEducational SurveysSpecial EducationLearning DisabilitiesUrban SchoolsEducation, UrbanEducation, Social Aspects

Places

New YorkNew York (State)