The Young Man from Atlanta
Horton Foote
The Young Man from Atlanta
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Horton Foote
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
There’s a secret hidden behind the quiet walls of a Houston home—something only the son’s best friend knows. Will and Lily Dale try to understand their son's sudden goodbye, but the truth is more tangled than they imagined. And that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade drama explores the emotional aftermath of a young man's suicide through the eyes of his grieving parents. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively handles themes of loss and secrets, offering a thoughtful look at family struggles. Parents should be aware of the mature subject matter related to grief and mental health.
Why we rated The Young Man from Atlanta 9IE
The Young Man from Atlanta is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 136 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Young Man from Atlanta works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Young Man from Atlanta as 9IE ("Intense — 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Grief.
Thematically, The Young Man from Atlanta explores family, loss & grief, secrets, and american drama — 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, loss & grief, secrets.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9IE — Intense — 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
- 0525941142
- Pages
- 136
- Publisher
- Dutton Adult
- Published
- 1995
- Type
- Fiction