Young, Black, and determined

Young, Black, and determined is written at a Level 9 reading level across 152 pages (approximately 33,909 words). Strong independent readers around grade 10.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Young, Black, and determined works for readers up to grade 11.0.

Read aloud, Young, Black, and determined runs about 3.8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Young, Black, and determined as 14LS ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Racial Discrimination.

Thematically, Young, Black, and determined explores biography, african american history, civil rights, coming of age, and social justice — 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.