Someone I Love Died by Suicide
Doreen Cammarata
Someone I Love Died by Suicide
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Story for Child Survivors and Those Who Care for Them
by Doreen Cammarata
Illustrated by Michael Ives Volk
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Have you ever felt really sad because someone you love is gone? Imagine trying to understand big feelings when a special person isn't there anymore. How do you find hope when your heart feels so heavy?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gently written early reader book addresses the difficult topic of suicide and loss, designed for children ages 5 to 8. It offers an accessible way to discuss grief and emotions with young children, helping them navigate complex feelings in a supportive context. Parents should be prepared to provide additional comfort and guidance as children process the subject matter.
Why we rated Someone I Love Died by Suicide 7ME
Someone I Love Died by Suicide is written at a Level 2 reading level across 34 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Someone I Love Died by Suicide works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Someone I Love Died by Suicide as 7ME ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide.
Thematically, Someone I Love Died by Suicide explores death & dying, family, children and death, and social issues — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about death & dying, family, children and death.
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
7ME — Moderate — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780970933294
- Pages
- 34
- Publisher
- Grief Guidance Inc
- Published
- May 8, 2001
- Type
- Fiction