The mentally retarded child and his family
Koch, Richard
The mentally retarded child and his family
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Multidisciplinary Handbook
by Koch, Richard
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Not all kids learn or grow the same way, and that's what makes each story unique. Imagine a family discovering how to support and love a child who thinks differently—and why that journey changes them forever.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers a thoughtful exploration of children with intellectual disabilities and their families, highlighting both medical and social perspectives. It emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary care and community support, making it a valuable resource for parents and educators of children aged 9-12. The content is sensitive and educational, suitable for middle-grade readers seeking to understand diverse abilities.
Why we rated The mentally retarded child and his family 12ME
The mentally retarded child and his family is written at a Level 8 reading level across 546 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The mentally retarded child and his family works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The mentally retarded child and his family as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, The mentally retarded child and his family explores disability representation, family, social justice, and education — 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 disability representation, family, social justice.
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
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 0876301219
- Pages
- 546
- Publisher
- Brunner/Mazel Publisher
- Published
- 1976
- Type
- Fiction