Walking small
L. J. Davis
Walking small
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by L. J. Davis
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What happens when a boy from a small town moves to a big city with nothing planned but curiosity? Imagine navigating a strange new world filled with unexpected challenges and confusing friendships. Will he find a place to belong, or will the city's shadows pull him under?
Quick Assessment
This novel follows a boy from Maine who moves to New York City in the 1950s, exploring themes of adolescence, identity, and difficult social environments. The story contains mature content including references to sex, substance use, and complex adult relationships, making it more suitable for older or mature readers within the middle-grade range. Parents should be aware of the book's dark humor and adult situations before sharing it with children.
Why we rated Walking small 11IE
Walking small is written at a Level 6 reading level across 214 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Walking small works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Walking small as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Sexual Content, Substance Use, Adult Themes.
Thematically, Walking small explores coming of age, family, social justice, and humor — 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 coming of age, family, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
- 0807607487
- Pages
- 214
- Publisher
- George Braziller
- Published
- 1974
- Type
- Fiction