There Come a Soldier
Peggy Mercer
There Come a Soldier
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Peggy Mercer
Illustrated by Ron Mazellan
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Crunching leaves and the cold whisper of the Belgian forest fill the air as a young soldier finds himself alone and scared. Memories of sunny cotton fields in Georgia, the laughter of his brothers and sisters, and the gentle voice of Ruthie warm his heart. Even in the darkest woods, hope and love shine through.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during the final years of World War II, this gently told story follows a young paratrooper lost in the Belgian forest who draws strength from his childhood memories in rural Georgia. The book uses Southern vernacular and beautiful illustrations to contrast the hardships of war with the warmth of family and home. Appropriate for early readers ages 5-8, it explores themes of family, courage, and resilience in a sensitive manner.
Why we rated There Come a Soldier 7LE
There Come a Soldier is written at a Level 2 reading level across 40 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, There Come a Soldier works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate There Come a Soldier as 7LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, There Come a Soldier explores family, historical - military & wars, emotions & feelings, juvenile fiction, and general — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 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, historical - military & wars, emotions & feelings.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781593541927
- Pages
- 40
- Publisher
- Chronicle Books
- Published
- September 6, 2007
- Type
- Fiction