Soames on the Range
Nancy Belgue
Soames on the Range
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nancy Belgue
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Cisco’s fists fly as he stands up to the school bully, but suddenly, everything spins out of control. Suspended and blamed for putting an old man in a coma, his world twists even further when his parents decide to send him far away—to a dude ranch in British Columbia. Can Cisco survive with an uncle he's never met and keep his family safe from miles away?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Soames on the Range follows fifteen-year-old Cisco as he navigates family upheaval, school conflict, and a drastic move from Vermont to British Columbia. The story touches on themes of identity, family change, and adolescent struggles, including bullying and suspension. Suitable for teens, it provides a thoughtful look at young adult challenges without graphic content.
Why we rated Soames on the Range 11ME
Soames on the Range is written at a Level 6 reading level across 216 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Soames on the Range works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Soames on the Range 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 — 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, Soames on the Range explores coming of age, family, bullying, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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 coming of age, family, bullying.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062026712
- Pages
- 216
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction