The 329th Friend
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
The 329th Friend
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What if you invited hundreds of friends over for lunch but none of them had time to really listen? Imagine Emery Raccoon trying to share his stories and feelings with 328 guests, only to find himself feeling more alone than ever. Will Emery discover a friend who truly hears him?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader story follows Emery Raccoon, who invites many guests to lunch in hopes of companionship but struggles with feeling unheard. It gently explores themes of loneliness and the importance of meaningful connection, suitable for children ages 5-8. The book features simple language appropriate for early readers and contains no concerning content.
Why we rated The 329th Friend 8C
The 329th Friend is written at a Level 3 reading level across 56 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The 329th Friend works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate The 329th Friend as 8C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loneliness.
Thematically, The 329th Friend explores friendship, emotional awareness, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, emotional awareness, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Content Flags
Was our "Gentle" 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
- 9780590315487
- Pages
- 56
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 1980
- Type
- Fiction