The Campus Life guide to making and keeping friends
Chris Lutes
The Campus Life guide to making and keeping friends
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Chris Lutes
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Have you ever wondered what makes a true friend? Imagine stepping into a world where every connection is guided by kindness and faith, helping you build friendships that last. What secrets will you discover about trust and loyalty on this journey?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book offers a Christian perspective on making and maintaining friendships, tailored for readers aged 9 to 12. It explores themes of interpersonal relationships and religious values, providing positive guidance for young readers navigating social connections. The content is age-appropriate, focusing on friendship and personal growth within a faith-based context.
Why we rated The Campus Life guide to making and keeping friends 9C
The Campus Life guide to making and keeping friends is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Campus Life guide to making and keeping friends works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Campus Life guide to making and keeping friends as 9C ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, The Campus Life guide to making and keeping friends explores friendship, religious life, interpersonal relations, and coming of age — 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 friendship, religious life, interpersonal relations.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
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
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Real Friends
Jeff Munroe
Real Friends
Jeff Munroe
Building Better Friendships (Active Bible Curriculum)
Steve Wamberg
Building Better Friendships (Active Bible Curriculum)
Steve Wamberg
Survival Guide for Making and Being Friends
James J. Crist
Survival Guide for Making and Being Friends
James J. Crist
Living it up to live it down
Ronica Stromberg
Living it up to live it down
Ronica Stromberg
Connect: Life & Christian Faith for Young Teens : Leaders Guide
Abingdon Press
Connect: Life & Christian Faith for Young Teens : Leaders Guide
Abingdon Press
My Life as a Christian (Faith 4 Life: Junior High Bible Study)
Group Publishing
My Life as a Christian (Faith 4 Life: Junior High Bible Study)
Group Publishing
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0310710219
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- Zondervan Publishing Company
- Published
- 1990
- Type
- Fiction