The straw man
Barbara Goldsmith
The straw man
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Barbara Goldsmith
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered what happens when a family's treasure is locked away behind legal battles? The Roycemans are rich beyond belief, with priceless art and grand homes, but their greatest prize is caught in a fight that could change everything. What secrets will Bertie uncover as he searches for his own path in a world full of power and passion?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the story of Bertie Royceman, who challenges his family's legacy and a contested will involving a valuable art collection. It highlights themes of family conflict, legal struggles, and the clash between traditional and radical art. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains complex themes around power dynamics and artistic identity, but no graphic content.
Why we rated The straw man 11MT
The straw man is written at a Level 6 reading level across 263 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The straw man works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The straw man as 11MT ("Moderate — Thematic") 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 thematic difficulty — 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 straw man explores family, art, legal conflict, and coming of age — 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, art, legal conflict.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11MT — Moderate — ThematicLight 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
- 0374270902
- Pages
- 263
- Publisher
- Farrar Straus Giroux
- Published
- 1975
- Type
- Fiction