A winning combination
Julie Anthony
A winning combination
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Julie Anthony
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Tennis isn’t just a game in this story — it’s a way to discover what it really means to be a winner. When the ball flies across the court, every match becomes a challenge that tests more than just skill. What happens when winning means more than just points on the scoreboard?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction centers around tennis, exploring themes of sportsmanship, perseverance, and personal growth suitable for ages 9 to 12. The story encourages young readers to understand the value of effort and character beyond winning. There is no intense content, making it appropriate for its target audience.
Why we rated A winning combination 11C
A winning combination is written at a Level 6 reading level across 264 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A winning combination works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate A winning combination as 11C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, A winning combination explores sports, friendship, family, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0684167107
- Pages
- 264
- Publisher
- Scribner Book Company
- Published
- 1980
- Type
- Fiction