The empty chair
Bess Kaplan
The empty chair
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Bess Kaplan
The text is written at a 6th 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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here's a secret: sometimes, saying goodbye isn't as simple as it seems. A young girl faces an empty chair at the dinner table and a heart full of questions about her new stepmother—but that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel sensitively explores a young girl's journey through grief after losing her mother and adjusting to a new stepmother. It addresses themes of loss and family change in a way that's accessible for ages 9 to 12, offering a thoughtful look at coping with emotional challenges.
Why we rated The empty chair 11ME
The empty chair is written at a Level 6 reading level across 243 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The empty chair works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The empty chair as 11ME ("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 empty chair explores death, family, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about death, family, coming of age.
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
11ME — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Emptying the nest
Maryellen Walsh
Emptying the nest
Maryellen Walsh
Empty Places
Kathy Cannon Wiechman
Empty Places
Kathy Cannon Wiechman
Let's talk about when a parent dies
Elizabeth Weitzman
Let's talk about when a parent dies
Elizabeth Weitzman
Someone Special Died (Kids Have Feelings, Too)
Joan Singleton Prestine
Someone Special Died (Kids Have Feelings, Too)
Joan Singleton Prestine
Empty cradle
Diana Walsh
Empty cradle
Diana Walsh
No new baby
Marilyn Gryte
No new baby
Marilyn Gryte
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0060230924
- Pages
- 243
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction