What to do until the counselor comes
S. Norman Feingold
What to do until the counselor comes
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Handbook for Educational, Vocational, and Career Planning
by S. Norman Feingold
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What if you had to figure out your future before the counselor arrived? Imagine exploring cool jobs, learning how to chase your dreams, and mastering the secrets of job hunting—all while waiting for help. But what if the counselor never showed up? How would you take charge of your own path?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book introduces readers to the basics of vocational guidance, including self-assessment, educational paths, and job search skills. Aimed at ages 9-12, it encourages children to think proactively about their future careers and personal interests in an accessible way. The content is appropriate for this age group with no notable sensitive topics.
Why we rated What to do until the counselor comes 9C
What to do until the counselor comes is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What to do until the counselor comes works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate What to do until the counselor comes as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, What to do until the counselor comes explores vocational guidance, self-discovery, education, and career planning — 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 vocational guidance, self-discovery, education.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780823905065
- Pages
- 112
- Publisher
- Rosen Publishing Group
- Published
- 1980
- Type
- Fiction