Big Game Jitters

Name: Big Game Jitters
Author: L. M. Nicodemo
ISBN: 9781459504295

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by L. M. Nicodemo

Secret Games of Maximus Todd

Reading Level 3-4 C · Gentle Ages 5-8 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.

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About This Book

Maximus Todd is ready to help his soccer team win against their biggest rivals, but when nervous jitters take over, he finds it hard to focus on the game. With his wiggly energy and a tough bully on the other team, Max must find a way to stay calm and give his best on the field. Full of humor and fast action, this story shows how courage and determination can make all the difference.

Themes

Friendship Sports HumorOvercoming Challenges

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 3-4 book with gentle content intensity. Content themes include fear & anxiety, bullying. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated Big Game Jitters C (Gentle)

Big Game Jitters is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 96 pages (approximately 4,267 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Big Game Jitters on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Big Game Jitters takes about 28 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Big Game Jitters as C (Gentle) 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Bullying.

Thematically, Big Game Jitters explores friendship, sports, humor, and overcoming challenges — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, sports, humor.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

C · Gentle

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.