Shocking Violence II
Rush Holt
Shocking Violence II
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Violent Disaster, War, and Terrorism Affecting Our Youth
by Rush Holt
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
Violence changes everything for kids caught in disasters, wars, and scary events. Experts reveal shocking truths about how these experiences shape young lives and what can be done to help. Understanding this matters because every child deserves safety and hope.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Shocking Violence II offers an expert, multidisciplinary look at how violent disasters, war, and terrorism affect youth psychologically and socially. The book provides practical intervention strategies and insights from psychology, education, law enforcement, and more, making it suitable for mature middle-grade readers interested in serious social issues. Parents should note the complex themes of trauma and violence, presented sensitively for ages 9-12.
Why we rated Shocking Violence II 11IE
Shocking Violence II is written at a Level 6 reading level across 222 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Shocking Violence II works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Shocking Violence II as 11IE ("Intense — 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, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence, Trauma.
Thematically, Shocking Violence II explores social justice, family, children and violence, conflict resolution, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about social justice, family, children and violence.
- ✓ 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
11IE — Intense — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Shocking Violence
Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Corinne E. Frantz
Shocking Violence
Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Corinne E. Frantz
Violence
Laura K. Egendorf
Violence
Laura K. Egendorf
Children exposed to violence
Margaret Mary Feerick, Gerald B. Silverman
Children exposed to violence
Margaret Mary Feerick, Gerald B. Silverman
Violent children
Bryan J. Grapes
Violent children
Bryan J. Grapes
Teen Violence
Joseph Kolb
Teen Violence
Joseph Kolb
Children, families and violence
Katherine Covell
Children, families and violence
Katherine Covell
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780398073534
- Pages
- 222
- Publisher
- Charles C. Thomas Publisher
- Published
- January 2003
- Type
- Nonfiction