Checked
Cynthia Kadohata
Checked
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Cynthia Kadohata
Illustrated by Zorat, Maurizio, illustrator
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Conor is a hockey beast—at least, that's what he believes. But when his beloved Doberman gets sick, hockey takes a back seat, and suddenly Conor has to figure out who he is without the game that defines him. What happens when the ice melts away and all that's left is the real world?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Checked is a moving middle-grade novel about a boy named Conor who faces the challenge of balancing his passion for hockey with his family’s struggles, including his dog’s illness and his father’s emotional pain. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and empathy with sensitivity and depth. Parents should note the story deals with illness and emotional vulnerability but does so in an age-appropriate way.
Why we rated Checked 12ME
Checked is written at a Level 8 reading level across 408 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Checked works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Checked as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Checked explores family, sports, friendship, coming of age, and veterinary medicine — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, sports, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481446617
- Pages
- 408
- Publisher
- Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction