The drowning boy
Susan Terris
The drowning boy
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Susan Terris
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
Sometimes, feeling like a 'bungling idiot' at home can hide a secret strength waiting to shine. When a twelve-year-old boy meets a six-year-old with a big challenge, he discovers courage he never knew he had—and it changes everything. This isn't just about helping someone else; it's about finding the hero inside yourself.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows a twelve-year-old boy who struggles with low self-confidence at home but finds new purpose and bravery by supporting a young child with schizophrenia living nearby. The story sensitively explores themes of emotional challenges, family dynamics, and personal growth suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should be aware that it addresses mental health in an accessible, age-appropriate way.
Why we rated The drowning boy 9ME
The drowning boy is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 189 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The drowning boy works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The drowning boy 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 — 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, The drowning boy explores confidence in children, families, emotional problems of children, family, and juvenile fiction — 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 confidence in children, families, emotional problems of children.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780385039819
- Pages
- 189
- Publisher
- Doubleday Books
- Published
- 1972
- Type
- Fiction