What reading level is Cover-up?

Cover-up by John Feinstein is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 780L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Cover-up appropriate for?

Cover-up is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Cover-up?

Cover-up is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Cover-up have any content warnings?

Cover-up 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 Cover-up?

Cover-up by John Feinstein is 298 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

Cover-up

John Feinstein

Cover-up

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by John Feinstein

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

A Junior Library Guild selection

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 roar of the crowd fills the air, the smell of popcorn and fresh turf mixing together as the biggest football game of the year unfolds. Fourteen-year-old reporters Susan Carol and Stevie are on the trail of a secret hiding beneath the stadium lights. But when Stevie loses his spot on their show, their investigation becomes more urgent—and more risky.

Themes

JournalismFriendship Sports Mystery

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows two young sports reporters as they uncover suspicious activities surrounding the Super Bowl. Appropriate for ages 9 to 12, the story combines themes of friendship, perseverance, and investigative journalism without intense content. Parents should note the focus on sports and mystery, with mild tension but no graphic material.

Why we rated Cover-up 9LE

Cover-up is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 298 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cover-up works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Cover-up 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, Cover-up explores journalism, friendship, sports, and mystery — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about journalism, friendship, sports.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Cover-up carries an award.