What reading level is The Drug Free Home?

The Drug Free Home by Russell Banks is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Drug Free Home appropriate for?

The Drug Free Home is recommended for Ages 9-12. Content intensity: "Moderate" (3/5). Content flags: Alcohol use, Political conflict, Family separation, Emotional weight.

What genre is The Drug Free Home?

The Drug Free Home is fiction — Fiction.

Does The Drug Free Home have any content warnings?

The Drug Free Home has a content intensity rating of "Moderate" (3/5). Content flags include: Alcohol use, Political conflict, Family separation, Emotional weight. On HootRated, every book is rated for emotional, physical, and social content themes to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The Drug Free Home?

The Drug Free Home by Russell Banks is 126 pages.

The Drug Free Home

Russell Banks

The Drug Free Home

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Novel

by Russell Banks

Reading Level 4-5 Moderate (Lvl 3) Ages 9-12 Matched

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 happens when a family faces impossible choices far from home? Imagine a mother who leaves everything behind to start a new life in a strange land, where danger and friendship mix in unexpected ways. Can she protect her family when the world around them is changing fast?

Themes

FamilyAdolescence - Drugs/DrinkingParentingPolitical ConflictComing of Age

Quick Assessment

Set between 1975 and 1991, this novel explores complex themes of political activism, family, and difficult moral decisions through the story of a mother who escapes America for Liberia. It addresses mature topics such as war, political conflict, and personal sacrifice, making it more suitable for older middle-grade readers (ages 10-12) who can handle nuanced historical and emotional content. Parents should be aware of the book's serious themes including alcohol use and the impact of political violence on family dynamics.