What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 and Pregnant
Arlene Richards
What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 and Pregnant
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Arlene Richards
The text is written at a 6th 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
Pregnancy isn't just an adult problem—kids as young as you can face it too. This book tells the truth about what happens when someone under 18 is expecting a baby, from choices about birth control to what comes after the baby is born. Knowing this can change everything for you or someone you care about.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book provides straightforward, age-appropriate information and guidance for children aged 9-12 who are pregnant or know someone who is. It covers important topics such as sex, birth control, pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, adoption, and marriage in a factual and sensitive manner. Parents should be aware that the content addresses complex and mature subjects but is intended to educate and support young readers facing these situations.
Why we rated What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 and Pregnant 11ME
What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 and Pregnant is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 and Pregnant works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 and Pregnant as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Physical/Safety: Mild Peril.
Thematically, What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is Under 18 and Pregnant explores coming of age, family, social justice, and health & wellness — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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
- ! 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
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780808503330
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- William Morrow & Company
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction