Those Derby Days
Garry Cheesbrough
Those Derby Days
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A History of The Derby School for the Partially Sighted
by Garry Cheesbrough
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Here’s a bold truth: a small school in Britain changed how kids with partial sight learn forever. It wasn’t easy — teachers had to invent new ways to teach, and students faced challenges no one had tackled before. Their fight to stay open shows why every child deserves a chance to shine.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction recounts the pioneering story of Britain’s first school for partially sighted children. It explores themes of disability, education reform, and social change, grounded in real testimony from former pupils. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book offers an insightful look at evolving attitudes toward inclusion and the resilience of a close-knit school community.
Why we rated Those Derby Days 9MS
Those Derby Days is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Those Derby Days works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Those Derby Days as 9MS ("Moderate — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Those Derby Days explores disability representation, education, family, historical, and social justice — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about disability representation, education, family.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9MS — Moderate — SocialLight 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781788033596
- Pages
- 192
- Publisher
- Troubador Publishing Ltd
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Nonfiction