This Way, Charlie
Caron Levis
This Way, Charlie
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Caron Levis
The text is written at a 1st grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Jack the shy goat tiptoes through the tall grass, ears twitching at every sound. Nearby, Charlie the blind horse stands still, trusting his other senses to guide him. Suddenly, a strange noise breaks the quiet—what could it be?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This Way, Charlie is a gentle story about the friendship between Jack, a shy goat, and Charlie, a blind horse, set at an animal rehabilitation ranch. Aimed at early readers aged 5-8, it explores themes of empathy, trust, and overcoming adversity in an accessible way. The book contains no intense content and is appropriate for young children.
Why we rated This Way, Charlie 6LE
This Way, Charlie is written at a Level 1-2 reading level across 40 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 2.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This Way, Charlie works for readers up to grade 3.5.
We rate This Way, Charlie as 6LE ("Light — Emotional") 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 Way, Charlie explores friendship, animals, empathy, and overcoming adversity — 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 friendship, animals, empathy.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
6LE — Light — EmotionalNo 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
- 9781419742064
- Pages
- 40
- Publisher
- Abrams Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction