When we were colored
Clifton L. Taulbert
When we were colored
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Tie In Edition
by Clifton L. Taulbert
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Experience the heartfelt journey of a young boy growing up in a close-knit African American community in Mississippi, where bonds of love and family shape his world. This evocative tale explores the strength found in togetherness and the impact of heritage on identity. It captures the warmth and challenges of youth in a changing society.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 6-7 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include identity & self-discovery, family change. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated When we were colored 11LE
When we were colored is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 153 pages (approximately 36,719 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, When we were colored works for readers up to grade 8.6.
Read aloud, When we were colored runs about 4.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate When we were colored as 11LE ("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: Identity & Self-Discovery, Family Change.
Thematically, When we were colored explores coming of age, family, multicultural, and historical — 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 13+ 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, multicultural.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
11LE — 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
6/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0140244778
- Pages
- 153
- Publisher
- National Geographic Books
- Published
- 1995
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 36,719
- Read-Aloud
- ~4h 5m
- Text Density
- Standard