This is America's story
Howard Baker Wilder
This is America's story
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Howard Baker Wilder
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Feel the crackle of old paper and the weight of history in your hands as you explore the story of America. From the first spark of independence to the times of Reagan, every moment pulses with the voices and dreams of those who shaped a nation. It’s not just a story—it’s the heartbeat of a country.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers a comprehensive and accessible history of the United States up through the Reagan administration, tailored for middle-grade readers. It includes helpful study aids, such as the Declaration of Independence and an annotated Constitution, making it a valuable resource for young learners interested in American history. The content is appropriate for ages 9-12 with no intense themes or mature content.
Why we rated This is America's story 12C
This is America's story is written at a Level 8 reading level across 792 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This is America's story works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate This is America's story as 12C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, This is America's story explores historical, science & nature, and education — 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 historical, science & nature, education.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0395317657
- Pages
- 792
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin
- Published
- 1983
- Type
- Nonfiction