Checked
Cynthia Kadohata
Checked
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Cynthia Kadohata
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Conor is the biggest hockey fan you’ll ever meet—so much that he calls himself a hockey beast! But when his beloved dog Sinbad gets sick, Conor has to pause the game he loves. What happens when the thing that makes you feel special suddenly disappears?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This touching story follows Conor, a young hockey player whose life revolves around the sport and his close relationship with his father. When their dog is diagnosed with cancer, Conor sets aside hockey to support his family through the difficult time, leading him to confront his identity beyond the game. Suitable for early readers aged 5-8, the book explores themes of family, illness, and self-discovery with gentle emotional depth.
Why we rated Checked 7LE
Checked is written at a Level 2 reading level across 45 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Checked works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Checked as 7LE ("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, Checked explores family, coming of age, sports, illness & injury, and single-parent families — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, sports.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781501982781
- Pages
- 45
- Publisher
- Atheneum Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction