Sugar Was My Best Food
Diabetes and Me
by Adair Gregory, Kyle Carney Gregory, Carol Antoinette Peacock
Albert Whitman & Company 1998
Great fit for 4th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
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Genre
Themes
- chronic illness
- resilience
- family support
- self-advocacy
- health literacy
- coping with change
- empowerment
- friendship
About this book
When 11-year-old Adair is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, life changes fast—there are finger pricks, insulin shots, new meal plans, and big feelings to manage. Told with the help of his family, this honest, kid-friendly account shows what daily life with diabetes looks like at home, at school, and with friends. Clear explanations and real-life tips help demystify the condition and reassure readers that kids with diabetes can still run, play, and thrive. A supportive read for upper elementary and middle-grade students, families, and classrooms learning about chronic illness.
Setting: contemporary United States; home, school, and clinic environments in the 1990s
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sugar Was My Best Food right for my child?
Yes — Sugar Was My Best Food is a great fit for 4th grade. The reading level is AR 4.8, which is typical for 4th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include chronic illness, resilience, family support.
How long does it take to read Sugar Was My Best Food?
At a typical 4th grade reading pace, Sugar Was My Best Food takes around 43m to finish. The book has 6,500 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does Sugar Was My Best Food have an AR quiz?
Yes — Sugar Was My Best Food has an AR quiz available, worth 0.5 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is Sugar Was My Best Food?
Sugar Was My Best Food has an AR reading level of 4.8, which places it at a 4th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.