The good father
Peter Prince
The good father
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Peter Prince
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.
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About This Book
What makes a father truly good? When a boy’s world shifts between his parents’ custody battle, he must navigate confusing feelings and unexpected friendships. Can he find his place in a family that feels torn apart?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the emotional complexities of a child's experience during a custody dispute. It sensitively addresses themes of family change and male friendship, making it appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book deals with family separation but handles it in a thoughtful and age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated The good father 11ME
The good father is written at a Level 6 reading level across 204 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The good father works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The good father 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 good father explores family, custody of children, and male friendship — 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, custody of children, male friendship.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0881841137
- Pages
- 204
- Publisher
- Carroll & Graf Publishers
- Published
- 1985
- Type
- Fiction