Stand like men
James Sherburne
Stand like men
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by James Sherburne
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The ground shakes beneath your feet as the miners strike their picks into the black coal seam. Dust fills the air and voices shout orders—danger lurks with every swing. Suddenly, a loud crash echoes through the tunnel—what just happened?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores the challenges faced by the Hord family when they sell mineral rights and become coal miners, drawing readers into a historical setting of labor struggles. Suitable for ages 9-12, it portrays themes of work, family, and conflict with no graphic content, making it a thoughtful introduction to complex social issues.
Why we rated Stand like men 11LS
Stand like men is written at a Level 6 reading level across 268 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stand like men works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Stand like men as 11LS ("Light — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Stand like men explores family, adventure, historical, and work and labor — 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 family, adventure, historical.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LS — Light — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 0395171172
- Pages
- 268
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin
- Published
- 1973
- Type
- Fiction