What reading level is William Penn?

William Penn by Janey Levy is at a Level 6-7 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is William Penn appropriate for?

William Penn is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11C (Clear).

What genre is William Penn?

William Penn is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the American History Milestones; PowerKids Press series.

Does William Penn have any content warnings?

William Penn has a HootRating of 11C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is William Penn?

William Penn by Janey Levy is 53 pages (approximately 2,344 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

William Penn

Janey Levy

William Penn

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Janey Levy

American History Milestones; PowerKids Press

Reading Level 6-7 11C Ages 9-12 Sweet Spot Page-Turner

The text is written at a 6th 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

Discover the life of William Penn, a visionary leader who founded Pennsylvania and championed the ideals of democracy and religious freedom. Follow his journey as his principles helped shape the early ideas behind the United States Constitution. This tale brings history to life for young readers eager to learn about courage and conviction.

Themes

BiographyHistoryFounding FathersReligious FreedomDemocracy

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6-7 book with gentle content intensity. It's a Sweet Spot read — challenging text with gentle themes, ideal for advanced or 2e readers. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated William Penn 11C

William Penn is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 53 pages (approximately 2,344 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, William Penn works for readers up to grade 8.4.

Read aloud, William Penn takes about 16 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate William Penn as 11C ("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, William Penn explores biography, history, founding fathers, religious freedom, and democracy — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about biography, history, founding fathers.
✓ 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.