Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?
Kate DiCamillo
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln?
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Three
by Kate DiCamillo
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
Baby Lincoln slips quietly away from her bossy sister Eugenia, stepping into the unknown with only a dream of shooting stars to guide her. She’s never traveled alone before, and every sound and shadow feels like a new clue. But when strange figures appear on the horizon, will Baby’s journey lead her to a new friend—or a surprise she never expected?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows Baby Lincoln as she embarks on an unexpected solo adventure, breaking free from her older sister Eugenia’s control. Suitable for ages 9 to 12, the story explores themes of independence, sibling relationships, and self-discovery through a gentle and imaginative narrative. Parents should know it contains no intense content, making it a comforting read about courage and growing up.
Why we rated Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? 9C
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? 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, Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? 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, Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? explores sisters, adventure, family, and self-discovery — 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 sisters, adventure, family.
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
2/10A 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
- 9780763692063
- Pages
- 112
- Publisher
- Candlewick Press
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction