Taking chances with sex
Christine DeVault
Taking chances with sex
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Christine DeVault
The text is written at a 4th 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 happens when Christy and David decide to take a big step in their relationship? They face tough choices about birth control, talking to parents, and handling surprises—like the possibility of a pregnancy. How will their decisions shape what comes next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This interactive middle-grade fiction explores important themes around sexual ethics and birth control through multiple story paths. It helps young readers understand the responsibilities tied to sexual decisions, including communication with partners and parents, and seeking reliable information. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it offers a thoughtful, age-sensitive approach without explicit content.
Why we rated Taking chances with sex 9ME
Taking chances with sex is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 163 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Taking chances with sex works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Taking chances with sex as 9ME ("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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — 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, Taking chances with sex explores sexual ethics, birth control, family, coming of age, and decision making — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sexual ethics, birth control, 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
9ME — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 094181677X
- Pages
- 163
- Publisher
- Network Publications
- Published
- 1989
- Type
- Fiction