>but children are introduced to the harsh messaging too early

I was called the n word at 10, the year before I went into 6th grade, children should feel uncomfortable with the harsh messaging of the story so the harsh reality that people actually have to live through daily is more readily understood.

Also this is a genuine question, what parts do you think are too much for middle schoolers?

Black kids still have to live it, so maybe children just reading about it isn’t that terrible of a concept.