What reading level is Bad Days in Sports?

Bad Days in Sports by Jon Mathaler is at a Level 5-6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Bad Days in Sports appropriate for?

Bad Days in Sports is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10C (Clear).

What genre is Bad Days in Sports?

Bad Days in Sports is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Ignite; Whoops! A History of Bad Days series.

Does Bad Days in Sports have any content warnings?

Bad Days in Sports has a HootRating of 10C (Clear). 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 Bad Days in Sports?

Bad Days in Sports by Jon Mathaler is 49 pages (approximately 6,125 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Bad Days in Sports

Jon Mathaler

Bad Days in Sports

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jon Mathaler

Ignite; Whoops! A History of Bad Days

Reading Level 5-6 10C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 5th 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

Discover the most unforgettable slip-ups and mishaps in sports history that show even the best athletes can have off days. From surprising errors to hilarious moments, these stories remind us that everyone makes mistakes, sometimes in front of thousands of fans! Dive into these memorable sports blunders that have become legendary over time.

Themes

SportsHistoryHumor

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Bad Days in Sports 10C

Bad Days in Sports is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 49 pages (approximately 6,125 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bad Days in Sports works for readers up to grade 7.9.

Read aloud, Bad Days in Sports takes about 41 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Bad Days in Sports as 10C ("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, Bad Days in Sports explores sports, history, and humor — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, history, humor.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 3 more books in the Ignite; Whoops! A History of Bad Days series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

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.