Steal Away
Jennifer L. Armstrong
Steal Away
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer L. Armstrong
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
What if you had to leave everything behind to find freedom? Imagine two girls, one African American and one white, running through dark forests and secret paths during the Civil War, chasing hope and safety. But danger is always close—will they make it to a new life, or will their journey be stopped?
Quick Assessment
Steal Away is a moving historical fiction novel set during the Civil War, following two girls—one African American and one white—who escape northward seeking freedom via the Underground Railroad. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively explores themes of courage, friendship, and racial history, with some tense moments reflecting the dangers of the era. The story provides a thoughtful look at a difficult time in American history without graphic content.
Why we rated Steal Away 11ME
Steal Away is written at a Level 6 reading level across 206 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Steal Away works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Steal Away 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, physical peril, social complexity — 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, Steal Away explores historical, friendship, coming of age, social justice, and multicultural — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, friendship, coming of age.
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780785724520
- Pages
- 206
- Publisher
- Rebound by Sagebrush
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction