The president has been shot!
Rebecca C. Jones
The president has been shot!
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
True Stories of the Attacks on Ten U.S. Presidents
by Rebecca C. Jones
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
The sharp crack of a gunshot echoes through the air, sending a hush over the crowd. The tension is thick, and every eye watches as history hangs in the balance. What happens when the leader of a nation faces danger no one could have imagined?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This nonfiction book explores the true stories behind four presidential assassinations and other attempts on U.S. Presidents' lives, tailored for middle-grade readers. It presents historical events with sensitivity appropriate for ages 9-12, providing insight into American history while addressing serious topics. Parents should be aware that the book includes discussions of violence related to assassination attempts.
Why we rated The president has been shot! 9ME
The president has been shot! is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 134 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The president has been shot! works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The president has been shot! 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Realistic Violence, Fear & Anxiety, Historical.
Thematically, The president has been shot! explores presidents, assassination, history, and united states — 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 presidents, assassination, history.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
- 9780525453338
- Pages
- 134
- Publisher
- Dutton Juvenile
- Published
- 1995
- Type
- Fiction