What reading level is Ben rides on?

Ben rides on by Matt Davies is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 730L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Ben rides on appropriate for?

Ben rides on is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Ben rides on?

Ben rides on is fiction — Fiction.

Does Ben rides on have any content warnings?

Ben rides on has a HootRating of 9LE (Light — 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 Ben rides on?

Ben rides on by Matt Davies is 38 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Ben rides on

Matt Davies

Ben rides on

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Matt Davies

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

The crunch of gravel under shiny new tires fills the air as Ben pedals his bike all the way to school, the wind brushing his face. But then, a shadow looms—Adrian Underbite, the biggest third-grader around, snatches the bike without a word. When trouble finds Adrian later, Ben faces a choice that could change everything.

Themes

BullyingFriendshipConduct of LifeBicycles and Bicycling

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction centers on Ben, a boy whose new bike is taken by a school bully, Adrian. The story explores themes of bullying, making ethical choices, and kindness in difficult situations, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of mild bullying behavior and moral dilemmas but no graphic content.

Why we rated Ben rides on 9LE

Ben rides on is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 730L across 38 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ben rides on works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Ben rides on 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, Ben rides on explores bullying, friendship, conduct of life, and bicycles and bicycling — 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 bullying, friendship, conduct of life.