The Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America)

Jim Murphy

The Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Civil War Union Soldier

by Jim Murphy

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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 would it be like to fight in a war at just sixteen? Imagine being an orphan who joins the Union Army and writes down everything that happens to you and your friends in 'G' Company. How will James Edmond survive the battles and challenges ahead?

Themes

HistoricalWar & ConflictComing of Age Family

Quick Assessment

This historical fiction book tells the story of James Edmond, a sixteen-year-old orphan who volunteers for the Union Army during the Civil War and records his experiences in a journal. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it provides a vivid perspective on the war while handling mature themes like conflict and loss in an age-appropriate way. Parents should be aware that the book includes depictions of war and its hardships, but these are presented thoughtfully for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated The Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America) 9ME

The Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 180 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America) works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America) as 9ME ("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, physical peril — 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 Journal of James Edmond Pease a Civil War Union Soldier (My Name is America) explores historical, war & conflict, coming of age, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

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 historical, war & conflict, 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

9ME — Moderate — Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Light

Thematic

Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

5/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

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