HootRated mascot HootRated

Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one

Stan Kirby

Cover of Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one

Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Stan Kirby

Illustrated by O'Connor, George, illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9LS 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.

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

What if you discovered you were a mini-golf master at your friend's birthday party? Imagine sinking every shot perfectly, only to find your friend bending the rules just to win. Can you keep your cool and show her that playing fair is the real way to be awesome?

Themes

CheatingMiniature golfPartiesFriendshipSportsmanshipBirthdays

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction story follows Eugene, who discovers his mini-golf skills during a friend's birthday party, only to face challenges when his friend starts cheating to win. The book explores themes of honesty, sportsmanship, and handling conflicts among peers, suitable for ages 9-12. It offers a lighthearted look at friendship and fairness with engaging illustrations.

Why we rated Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one 9LS

Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 117 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one as 9LS ("Light — Social") 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, Captain Awesome gets a hole-in-one explores cheating, miniature golf, parties, friendship, and sportsmanship — 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 cheating, miniature golf, parties.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LS — Light — Social
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Light
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

Similar Books

Based on content and theme analysis

See all books like this →

Details

Book Length

117 pages
ISBN
9781481414319
Pages
117
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published
2014
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

CheatingMiniature GolfPartiesBirthdaysSuperheroesHeroesGolf