Special parent, special child
Tom Sullivan
Special parent, special child
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Parents of Children with Disabilities Share Their Trials, Triumphs, and Hard-won Wisdom
by Tom Sullivan
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
Some parents face challenges most don’t even imagine, yet their love is just as powerful. Discover how six families navigate life with a child who has a disability, showing strength, hope, and courage. Their stories prove that every family’s journey matters in ways you might never expect.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book explores the experiences of six families raising children with disabilities, offering insight into the diverse challenges and triumphs they face. It provides a compassionate and realistic portrayal suitable for ages 9-12, emphasizing empathy and understanding without graphic content. Parents should note its focus on emotional resilience and family dynamics.
Why we rated Special parent, special child 11ME
Special parent, special child is written at a Level 6 reading level across 239 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Special parent, special child works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Special parent, special child 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, Special parent, special child explores parents of children with disabilities, children with disabilities, family, empathy, and resilience — 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 parents of children with disabilities, children with disabilities, family.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0874777828
- Pages
- 239
- Publisher
- J P Tarcher
- Published
- 1995
- Type
- Fiction