The girls and boys book about good and bad behavior
Richard A. Gardner
The girls and boys book about good and bad behavior
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Richard A. Gardner
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: understanding what makes behavior 'good' or 'bad' can change everything about how you see yourself and others. From feeling proud to feeling sorry, every emotion has a story—but that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers an accessible exploration of behaviors and emotions such as self-esteem, shame, guilt, sympathy, and love, aimed at children ages 9-12. It serves as a helpful guide for parents and children to discuss the complexities of human behavior in a thoughtful and age-appropriate way.
Why we rated The girls and boys book about good and bad behavior 11LE
The girls and boys book about good and bad behavior is written at a Level 6 reading level across 221 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The girls and boys book about good and bad behavior works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The girls and boys book about good and bad behavior as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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 girls and boys book about good and bad behavior explores family, coming of age, behavior, and self-discovery — 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 family, coming of age, behavior.
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
11LE — Light — EmotionalNo 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780933812215
- Pages
- 221
- Publisher
- Creative Therapeutics
- Published
- 1990
- Type
- Fiction