That Empty Feeling
Joseph Disberger
That Empty Feeling
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Sheldon and Friends
by Joseph Disberger
The text is written at a 5th 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
Did you know that sometimes feelings can feel like a big, empty space inside you? Sheldon Jojo the Monkey and Dillon the Turtle share a secret about 'That Empty Feeling'—a special name for when things feel heavy in your heart. But that’s only the beginning of learning how to understand and talk about those tricky feelings.
Themes
Quick Assessment
That Empty Feeling gently introduces children ages 9 to 12 to the concept of emotional struggles, using animal characters to help them recognize and verbalize difficult feelings without labeling them as depression. The story encourages openness and emotional literacy in a supportive, age-appropriate way, making it suitable for middle-grade readers who may be experiencing or witnessing emotional challenges.
Why we rated That Empty Feeling 10LE
That Empty Feeling is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, That Empty Feeling works for readers up to grade 7.0.
We rate That Empty Feeling as 10LE ("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, That Empty Feeling explores psychology, emotional literacy, friendship, 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 psychology, emotional literacy, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10LE — 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
- ISBN
- 9798985589009
- Publisher
- Disberger, Joseph
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction