Two homes to live in
Barbara Shook Hazen
Two homes to live in
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Child's-eye View of Divorce
by Barbara Shook Hazen
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The quiet creak of the front door and the soft smell of Mom’s cookies fill one home, while the gentle hum of Dad’s guitar strums in the other. Imagine having two rooms to call your own, two cozy places that each feel just right. It’s a story about finding comfort and love in two special homes, even when things feel a little different.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This gentle story helps young children understand and navigate the feelings around their parents’ divorce by sharing the perspective of a young girl with two homes. Suitable for early readers ages 5-8, it addresses family change sensitively without overwhelming emotional intensity. Parents will appreciate its reassuring tone and focus on acceptance and love across family situations.
Why we rated Two homes to live in 7LE
Two homes to live in is written at a Level 2 reading level across 40 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Two homes to live in works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Two homes to live in as 7LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Two homes to live in explores divorce, family, and coming of age — 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 divorce, family, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780877053132
- Pages
- 40
- Publisher
- Human Sciences Press
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction