What reading level is A matter of heart?

A matter of heart by Amy Fellner Dominy is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 580L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is A matter of heart appropriate for?

A matter of heart is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is A matter of heart?

A matter of heart is fiction — Heart.

Does A matter of heart have any content warnings?

A matter of heart has a HootRating of 8ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is A matter of heart?

A matter of heart by Amy Fellner Dominy is 306 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

A matter of heart

Amy Fellner Dominy

A matter of heart

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Amy Fellner Dominy

Reading Level 3 8ME Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Abby races through the water, every stroke bringing her closer to the finish line. Suddenly, everything goes dark, and she collapses—what will happen to her dreams now? The biggest challenge isn’t the race anymore, but finding out who she really is beyond swimming.

Themes

Identity & Self-Discovery Family Sports Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This novel follows sixteen-year-old Abby Lipman, a competitive swimmer whose life changes after a fainting episode reveals a serious heart condition. It explores themes of identity and resilience as Abby navigates her new reality without swimming. Appropriate for middle-grade readers, it handles health and self-discovery with sensitivity and hope.

Why we rated A matter of heart 8ME

A matter of heart is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 580L across 306 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A matter of heart works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate A matter of heart as 8ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, A matter of heart explores identity & self-discovery, family, sports, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about identity & self-discovery, family, sports.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.