Shadow Life A Portrait of Anne Frank and her family

Barry Denenberg

Cover of Shadow Life A Portrait of Anne Frank and her family

Shadow Life A Portrait of Anne Frank and her family

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Barry Denenberg

Reading Level 6 Moderate (Lvl 3) Ages 9-12 Matched

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.

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About This Book

What would it be like to live in hiding, with only your family and a secret diary for company? Imagine the courage it takes to stay hopeful when the world outside is full of danger. Anne Frank's story is a window into a hidden life that changed history forever.

Themes

Biographies & MemoirsHistoryJewishFamily

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade historical fiction book provides a thoughtful portrayal of Anne Frank and her family's life in hiding during World War II. Suitable for ages 9-12, it introduces readers to the realities of Jewish persecution through a sensitive narrative that balances historical facts with accessible storytelling. Parents should note the book handles serious themes like war and discrimination in an age-appropriate manner.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 3 — Moderate
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

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

Content Flags

Fear & Anxiety War & Conflict Discrimination
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
5
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
7
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

224 pages
ISBN
9780439874380
Pages
224
Publisher
scholastic
Published
2006
Type
Nonfiction

Subjects

Biographies & MemoirsWorldJewish