We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(1) Sea Level
It doesn't get much easier than this, folks. The author of The Boxcar Children was a first-grade teacher, and she specifically designed the book so it would be easy to read. Simple sentences, words that repeat again and again (and again), and a straightforward plot will help new readers follow along. And for not-so-new readers, the story itself is a great hook. Who among us hasn't fantasized about running away?