Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents
Scott W. Henggeler
Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Multisystemic Therapy
by Scott W. Henggeler
The text is written at a 6th 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
The room buzzes with tension as a young girl clenches her fists, struggling to calm the storm inside her mind. Around her, adults talk in serious tones about feelings no one else seems to understand. What happens when emotions get too big to handle?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers an in-depth look at serious emotional disturbances in children and adolescents, providing practical insights for clinicians and students in mental health fields. While written at a middle-grade reading level, its content is specialized and best suited for older readers interested in psychology or professionals working with youth. Parents should note that it addresses complex psychological topics in a clinical context.
Why we rated Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents 11ME
Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents is written at a Level 6 reading level across 260 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents as 11ME ("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, 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, Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children and Adolescents explores counselling, psychotherapy, emotions, adolescent psychopathology, and psychology — 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 counselling, psychotherapy, emotions.
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
11ME — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Conduct Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence
Jonathan Hill
Conduct Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence
Jonathan Hill
Children with emotional disorders and developmental disabilities
Marian Sigman
Children with emotional disorders and developmental disabilities
Marian Sigman
The emotionally disturbed child in the classroom
Frank M. Hewett
The emotionally disturbed child in the classroom
Frank M. Hewett
Behavior disorders of children and adolescents
Douglas Cullinan
Behavior disorders of children and adolescents
Douglas Cullinan
Emotion Regulation in Children and Adolescents
Michael A. Southam-Gerow
Emotion Regulation in Children and Adolescents
Michael A. Southam-Gerow
Emotional and behavioural difficulties
Cornwall, John senior lecturer.
Emotional and behavioural difficulties
Cornwall, John senior lecturer.
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781572307803
- Pages
- 260
- Publisher
- Guilford Press
- Published
- July 15, 2002
- Type
- Fiction