What reading level is The war between the classes?

The war between the classes by Gloria D. Miklowitz is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is The war between the classes appropriate for?

The war between the classes is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Racial Discrimination, Identity & Self-Discovery, Bullying, Divorce & Family Change.

What genre is The war between the classes?

The war between the classes is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does The war between the classes have any content warnings?

The war between the classes has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Racial Discrimination, Identity & Self-Discovery, Bullying, Divorce & Family Change. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The war between the classes?

The war between the classes by Gloria D. Miklowitz is 158 pages (approximately 37,285 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The war between the classes

Gloria D. Miklowitz

The war between the classes

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gloria D. Miklowitz

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 13+ Matched Rich Discussion

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Amy and Adam struggle to keep their relationship alive amid their families' disapproval and a school experiment that exposes harsh truths about class and race. As the 'color game' divides their classmates and threatens friendships, Amy must decide whether to stand up and challenge the unfair system. Together, they navigate the challenges of prejudice, identity, and young love.

Themes

Multicultural Friendship Coming of Age Social Justice Romance

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include racial discrimination, identity & self-discovery, bullying. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated The war between the classes 9ME

The war between the classes is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 158 pages (approximately 37,285 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The war between the classes works for readers up to grade 6.6.

Read aloud, The war between the classes runs about 4.2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The war between the classes 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Racial Discrimination, Identity & Self-Discovery, Bullying, Divorce & Family Change.

Thematically, The war between the classes explores multicultural, friendship, coming of age, social justice, and romance — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Family book clubs, classroom read-alouds, and parents who want a strong conversation hook.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about multicultural, friendship, coming of age.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.