The keeping days
Norma Johnston
The keeping days
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Norma Johnston
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
Fourteen-year-old narrators don’t usually carry the weight of an entire family’s story, but this girl does—and she makes every moment unforgettable. Through her eyes, you’ll live the challenges and surprises of 1900, where every day could change everything. Why does her story still matter today? Because family is the heart of every adventure.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows a fourteen-year-old girl who chronicles her family’s experiences over seven months in the year 1900. It offers a historical perspective on family life and teenage experiences in that era, appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book explores themes of family dynamics and coming-of-age without intense content.
Why we rated The keeping days 11LE
The keeping days is written at a Level 6 reading level across 233 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The keeping days works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The keeping days 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 keeping days explores family, coming of age, historical, and juvenile fiction — 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, historical.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780689301100
- Pages
- 233
- Publisher
- Atheneum Books
- Published
- 1973
- Type
- Fiction