Abner & me
Dan Gutman
Abner & me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a baseball card adventure
by Dan Gutman
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Boom! The sharp crack of cannons fills the air, mingling with the scent of smoke and the distant cries of battle. Stosh is suddenly standing in the heart of the 1863 Gettysburg battlefield, where danger and history collide. With baseball on his mind and history unfolding around him, what will he discover about Abner Doubleday's legendary claim?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book blends historical adventure with a fun baseball mystery as Stosh time-travels to the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. Suitable for ages 9-12, it features action-packed scenes and humor while providing a glimpse into an important historical event. Parents should be aware of mild battle-related peril and some intense moments typical of historical fiction.
Why we rated Abner & me 9LE
Abner & me is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 166 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Abner & me works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Abner & me as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Abner & me explores historical, adventure, baseball, and family — 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 historical, adventure, baseball.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780060534455
- Pages
- 166
- Publisher
- Harper Collins
- Published
- 2007
- Type
- Fiction