United States 1917-2008

Derrick Murphy

United States 1917-2008

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

And Civil Rights 1865-1992

by Derrick Murphy

Reading Level 7 12MS Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 7th 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

History isn’t just about dates—it’s about how people’s choices shaped the world we live in today. Imagine jumping through time from World War I all the way to the early 2000s, discovering how the United States faced big challenges and fought for civil rights. This book reveals the powerful stories behind the headlines and why they still matter now.

Themes

Civil rightsUnited States historyStudy skillsSocial justiceHistorical

Quick Assessment

This nonfiction book provides a detailed overview of United States history from 1917 to 2008, covering major events such as both World Wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, and civil rights movements. It is designed for middle-grade readers aged 9-12 and includes study aids like historical interpretations, document questions, and vocabulary explanations to support comprehension. While the content is comprehensive and educational, parents should note it involves complex historical topics appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students.

Why we rated United States 1917-2008 12MS

United States 1917-2008 is written at a Level 7 reading level across 362 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, United States 1917-2008 works for readers up to grade 9.0.

We rate United States 1917-2008 as 12MS ("Moderate — Social") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from social complexity, thematic difficulty — 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, United States 1917-2008 explores civil rights, united states history, study skills, social justice, and historical — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about civil rights, united states history, study skills.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

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

12MS — Moderate — Social

Emotional

Light

Physical

Light

Social

Moderate ←

Thematic

Moderate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

3/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

Steven E. Woodworth

Level 4

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Details

Book Length

362 pages

ISBN: 9780008247409
Pages: 362
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Published: 2018
Type: Nonfiction

Genres

Education

Subjects

Civil Rights, United StatesCivil Rights