The suicidal child
Cynthia R. Pfeffer
The suicidal child
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Practitioner Guide to Screening, Assessment, and Management
by Cynthia R. Pfeffer
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: some kids feel so sad and alone that they think about giving up, but that's only the beginning. Understanding these feelings can help turn darkness into hope and change lives in ways you might never expect.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers a clinical, evidence-based approach to identifying and managing suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. It is intended primarily for professionals but may provide parents with insight into assessment and intervention strategies. Due to its serious subject matter, it is best suited for mature readers aged 12 and up or for parental guidance with younger readers.
Why we rated The suicidal child 12IE
The suicidal child is written at a Level 7 reading level across 318 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The suicidal child works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The suicidal child as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicidal Behavior.
Thematically, The suicidal child explores mental health, youth, prevention, and family — 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 mental health, youth, prevention.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0898626641
- Pages
- 318
- Publisher
- Guilford Press
- Published
- 1986
- Type
- Fiction