What Would You Do?
Barbara S. Cain
What Would You Do?
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Child's Book about Divorce
by Barbara S. Cain
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The phone rings again, and everything feels different. Mom and Dad are in separate rooms, and you don’t know what to do next. How will you find your way when your family is changing?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader gently explores young children's emotions and reactions to divorce. Suitable for ages 5-8, it offers a sensitive portrayal of family change without heavy conflict or distress. Parents should find it a helpful tool for opening conversations about divorce with young children.
Why we rated What Would You Do? 8ME
What Would You Do? is written at a Level 3 reading level across 56 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What Would You Do? works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate What Would You Do? as 8ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, What Would You Do? explores divorce, family, and emotional growth — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about divorce, family, emotional growth.
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
8ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780880483001
- Pages
- 56
- Publisher
- American Psychiatric Publishing
- Published
- 1976
- Type
- Fiction