With promise
Susan Stires
With promise
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Redefining Reading and Writing Needs for "special" Students
by Susan Stires
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
Some kids learn differently, and that’s not just okay—it’s a superpower for discovering new ways to read and write. This story shows how special teaching methods can unlock hidden talents in kids who struggle the most. Understanding this changes everything about how we see learning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
With Promise explores innovative educational approaches for children with learning disabilities, focusing on language arts and remedial teaching. It highlights collaboration between teachers and researchers to support 'special' and 'at risk' students in elementary and middle school. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it provides insight into special education without heavy conflict or mature themes.
Why we rated With promise 9C
With promise is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 180 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, With promise works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate With promise 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, With promise explores learning disabled children, education, remedial teaching, special education, and language arts — 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 learning disabled children, education, remedial teaching.
- ✓ 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
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
1/10A 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
- 0435085735
- Pages
- 180
- Publisher
- Heinemann Educational Publishers
- Published
- 1991
- Type
- Nonfiction