What reading level is This vast land?

This vast land by Stephen E. Ambrose is at a Level 6-7 reading level. Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is This vast land appropriate for?

This vast land is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Racial Discrimination, Identity & Self-Discovery, Social Justice.

What genre is This vast land?

This vast land is fiction — Juvenile Nonfiction.

Does This vast land have any content warnings?

This vast land has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Racial Discrimination, Identity & Self-Discovery, Social Justice. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is This vast land?

This vast land by Stephen E. Ambrose is 293 pages (approximately 52,640 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

This vast land

Stephen E. Ambrose

This vast land

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Stephen E. Ambrose

Reading Level 6-7 11ME Ages 13+ Balanced Read Rich Discussion

The text is written at a 6th 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

Journey back in time to explore the challenging lives and courageous spirits of black women living in the segregated South. Through their own voices and stories, these women reveal their vital roles in family, community, and the fight against inequality. Experience a powerful blend of history and personal triumph that highlights their strength and resilience.

Themes

Historical Family Social Justice Multicultural

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6-7 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include racial discrimination, identity & self-discovery, social justice. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated This vast land 11ME

This vast land is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 293 pages (approximately 52,640 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This vast land works for readers up to grade 8.6.

Read aloud, This vast land runs about 5.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate This vast land as 11ME ("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, Social Justice.

Thematically, This vast land explores historical, family, social justice, and multicultural — 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 historical, family, social justice.

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.