With Friends Like That (Canby Hall No 11)
Emily Chase
With Friends Like That (Canby Hall No 11)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Emily Chase
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What would you do if your favorite hangout spot was about to disappear? Dana, Faith, and Shelley aren't just going to sit quietly—they're planning a bold protest to save Canby Hall. But will their daring ideas be enough to keep this special place from being sold?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade book follows three friends who band together to save their cherished community space, Canby Hall, from being sold. It explores themes of friendship, activism, and problem-solving in a school and community setting, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. The story contains light social themes around community engagement but no intense content.
Why we rated With Friends Like That (Canby Hall No 11) 9LS
With Friends Like That (Canby Hall No 11) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 196 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, With Friends Like That (Canby Hall No 11) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate With Friends Like That (Canby Hall No 11) as 9LS ("Light — Social") 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, With Friends Like That (Canby Hall No 11) explores friendship, school stories, and social justice — 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 friendship, school stories, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LS — Light — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780590408691
- Pages
- 196
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- March 1985
- Type
- Fiction