The Gold Rush (The West)
Liza Ketchum
The Gold Rush (The West)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Liza Ketchum
The text is written at a 4th 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
This companion book to an 8-part documentary series about the history of the West covers the period of the Gold Rush.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated The Gold Rush (The West) Level 0
The Gold Rush (The West) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 128 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Gold Rush (The West) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Gold Rush (The West) as Unrated because the content sits in the "Unrated" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the unrated intensity score.
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.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
Level 0 — UnratedThis book has not yet been rated for content intensity.
Was our "Unrated" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780316490474
- Pages
- 128
- Publisher
- Little Brown
- Published
- September 1996
- Type
- Nonfiction