Who was Abraham Lincoln?

Name: Who was Abraham Lincoln?
Author: Janet B. Pascal
ISBN: 9780448448862

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Janet B. Pascal

Who Was...?/Who Is...?

Reading Level 5-6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched Page-Turner

The text is written at a 5th 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Discover the remarkable journey of a tall and determined boy who grew up to lead a nation through its greatest struggle. From humble farm beginnings to becoming the sixteenth President, his courage helped end slavery and change history forever. The story also touches on his tragic assassination, all brought to life with detailed illustrations and maps.

Themes

HistoricalBiographyComing of Age Social Justice Family

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include loss & grief, historical violence, physical danger. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Who was Abraham Lincoln? ME (Moderate)

Who was Abraham Lincoln? is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 113 pages (approximately 8,531 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Who was Abraham Lincoln? on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Who was Abraham Lincoln? takes about 57 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Who was Abraham Lincoln? as ME (Moderate, mostly 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: Loss & Grief, Historical Violence, Physical Danger.

Thematically, Who was Abraham Lincoln? explores historical, biography, coming of age, social justice, and family — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, biography, coming of age.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 8 more books in the Who Was...?/Who Is...? series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.