The Story of Jonas
Maurine F. Dahlberg
The Story of Jonas
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Maurine F. Dahlberg
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
Jonas has spent his whole life on a Missouri farm, accepting his fate as a slave until a journey with his harsh master’s son opens his eyes to new possibilities. Along the way, friendships and the gift of reading inspire Jonas to dream beyond servitude and imagine a future of freedom and self-worth. This powerful tale captures a young boy's courageous journey toward hope and identity during a turbulent time in history.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include emotional: identity & self-discovery, emotional: fear & anxiety, emotional: loss & grief. Written for readers ages 9-12.
For Parents
Content Intensity
Level 3 — ModerateReal 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780374372644
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
- Published
- March 20, 2007
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 34,838
- Read-Aloud
- ~3h 52m
- Text Density
- Standard