The faces of televisual media
Edward L. Palmer, Brian M. Young
The faces of televisual media
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Teaching, Violence, Selling to Children
by Edward L. Palmer, Brian M. Young
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Television isn’t just for fun—it shapes how kids think and feel every day. This story dives into the surprising ways your favorite shows and ads can change what you believe and how you see the world. Why does it all matter? Because what’s on the screen can shape the real you.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book explores the impact of television on children and adolescents, focusing on how programming and advertising influence development and behavior. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it addresses themes like violence on TV, educational content, and media’s role in society. Parents should know it offers thoughtful insights without graphic content, making it appropriate for ages 9-12.
Why we rated The faces of televisual media 12LS
The faces of televisual media is written at a Level 8 reading level across 401 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The faces of televisual media works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The faces of televisual media as 12LS ("Light — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The faces of televisual media explores television and children, television programs for children, television advertising and children, violence on television, and television in education — 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 television and children, television programs for children, television advertising and children.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
12LS — Light — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Television & America's children
Edward L. Palmer
Television & America's children
Edward L. Palmer
Children and television
Cedric Cullingford
Children and television
Cedric Cullingford
Television and Young People
Kurt Aimiller
Television and Young People
Kurt Aimiller
Children, television, and the new media
Paul Löhr, Manfred Meyer
Children, television, and the new media
Paul Löhr, Manfred Meyer
The Effects of television advertising on children
Richard Adler
The Effects of television advertising on children
Richard Adler
Children and Media
Dafna Lemish
Children and Media
Dafna Lemish
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780805840742
- Pages
- 401
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Published
- 2003
- Type
- Nonfiction