What Scares Me... and What I Do about It
Jeff Kunkel
What Scares Me... and What I Do about It
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jeff Kunkel
Illustrated by Various
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.
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About This Book
Fear isn't just something that happens—it's something you can fight back against with faith and courage. Kids share their own stories and secrets about what scares them and how they turn those fears into strength. Discover why facing fear can be the bravest thing you ever do.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book collects real children's expressions of fear and how they address those fears through faith, prayer, and love. It serves as a supportive resource for families to discuss emotions and build resilience in children ages 9 to 12. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it blends inspirational religious themes with emotional development.
Why we rated What Scares Me... and What I Do about It 10LE
What Scares Me... and What I Do about It is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What Scares Me... and What I Do about It works for readers up to grade 7.0.
We rate What Scares Me... and What I Do about It as 10LE ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional.
Thematically, What Scares Me... and What I Do about It explores religion - christianity, emotions & feelings, family, and inspiration — 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 religion - christianity, emotions & feelings, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
- ISBN
- 9780613754514
- Publisher
- Turtleback
- Published
- August 2003
- Type
- Fiction