Stay put, Robbie McAmis
Frances G. Tunbo
Stay put, Robbie McAmis
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Frances G. Tunbo
The text is written at a 4th 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 crack of splintering wood fills the dry Texas air, dust swirling around a broken wagon. Twelve-year-old Robbie’s heart pounds as he stares out into the vast wilderness, where his family and Grammie are lost and alone. With every step, the weight of survival presses down, but Robbie knows giving up isn’t an option.
Quick Assessment
Set in the Texas wilderness of 1848, this middle-grade fiction follows twelve-year-old Robbie as he leads his siblings and Grammie through the challenges of frontier life after a wagon accident leaves them stranded. The story emphasizes themes of survival, family resilience, and pioneer spirit, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the historical setting includes mild peril but is handled with sensitivity.
Why we rated Stay put, Robbie McAmis 9LE
Stay put, Robbie McAmis is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 158 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stay put, Robbie McAmis works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Stay put, Robbie McAmis as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Stay put, Robbie McAmis explores survival, frontier and pioneer life, and family — 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 survival, frontier and pioneer life, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0875650252
- Pages
- 158
- Publisher
- TCU Press
- Published
- 1988
- Type
- Fiction