Trailing Tennessee
Cory Wheeler Mimms
Trailing Tennessee
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Cory Wheeler Mimms
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The crunch of dry leaves and the crisp mountain air fill your lungs as you step onto the Appalachian Trail. Every blister, every drop of rain, and every shadow in the woods tests Eli’s courage and heart. Can he face the ghosts of his past and the wild unknown ahead?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Trailing Tennessee follows Eli Sutton, a middle-grade runaway who embarks on a challenging hike along the Appalachian Trail after a family tragedy. The story explores themes of grief, courage, and self-discovery, with some mild peril from natural elements and internal struggles. Suitable for ages 9-12, it provides a thoughtful look at resilience and healing through adventure.
Why we rated Trailing Tennessee 11ME
Trailing Tennessee is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Trailing Tennessee works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Trailing Tennessee 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, physical peril — 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 moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Trailing Tennessee explores runaways, adventure, family, coming of age, and nature — 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 runaways, adventure, family.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781940052007
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Craigmore Creations
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction