We the children

Name: We the children
Author: Andrew Clements
ISBN: 9781416938866

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Andrew Clements

Benjamin Pratt & the Keepers of the School

Reading Level 5-6 LP · Mild · Physical Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LP, means mild content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

Ben and Jill stumble upon a hidden past about their school that puts them in unexpected trouble. Together, they work to stop a developer from tearing down their beloved building to build an amusement park. Their bravery and friendship shine as they fight to protect their community's history.

Themes

Friendship Adventure Social Justice Historical

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated We the children LP (Mild)

We the children is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 160 pages (approximately 22,687 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage We the children on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, We the children runs about 2.5 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate We the children as LP (Mild, mostly physical) 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.

Thematically, We the children explores friendship, adventure, 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, social justice.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LP · Mild · Physical

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Mild ←

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.