Suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents
Keith Hawton
Suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Keith Hawton
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 very intense with mature or graphic material.
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About This Book
The silence in the room feels heavy, like a thick fog that won't lift. Imagine carrying a secret so heavy it makes your heart ache and your world feel upside down. Sometimes, when kids feel this way, they need more than just words—they need hope, help, and understanding, but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book provides a detailed exploration of suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents, backed by extensive international research. It covers causes, motives, consequences, and the clinical and preventative approaches to suicidal behavior in youth. Due to the sensitive and heavy nature of the topic, it is suitable for mature readers around ages 9-12 with appropriate guidance from adults.
Why we rated Suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents 9VE
Suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 159 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents as 9VE ("Vivid — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Very Intense" range — very intense or graphic content — peril, violence, trauma, or mature themes treated head-on. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicidal Behavior, Mental Health.
Thematically, Suicide and attempted suicide among children and adolescents explores adolescent psychology, suicide prevention, and mental health awareness — 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 adolescent psychology, suicide prevention, mental health awareness.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9VE — Vivid — EmotionalGraphic or sustained depictions of trauma, violence, or mature content.
Content Flags
Was our "Very Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0803925220
- Pages
- 159
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications, Incorporated
- Published
- 1986
- Type
- Fiction