Teenagers Talk About Suicide
Marion Crook
Teenagers Talk About Suicide
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Marion Crook
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 if you could hear the real stories behind the feelings that make some kids think about giving up? Imagine stepping inside the minds of teenagers from all across Canada as they share their struggles and hopes. But what happens when those feelings become too heavy to carry alone?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book presents candid accounts from Canadian teenagers about the difficult emotions and life events that led them or their friends to consider or attempt suicide. It is intended for readers aged 9-12 and offers insight into adolescent mental health, emphasizing the importance of understanding and support. While the subject matter is serious, it is handled with sensitivity appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated Teenagers Talk About Suicide 9IE
Teenagers Talk About Suicide is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 120 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Teenagers Talk About Suicide works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Teenagers Talk About Suicide as 9IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide Mention.
Thematically, Teenagers Talk About Suicide explores adolescents, mental health, psychotherapy, coming of age, and social justice — 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 adolescents, mental health, psychotherapy.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
9IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
- 9781550210132
- Pages
- 120
- Publisher
- Independent Publishing Group
- Published
- May 1988
- Type
- Nonfiction