Dangerous Play
Emma Kress
Dangerous Play
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Emma Kress
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
The sharp whistle of the referee cuts through the chilly night air as the field hockey ball skims across the turf. Zoe and her teammates play with fierce determination, their breaths steaming in the cold, but beneath the roar of the crowd lies a quiet storm stirring inside Zoe’s heart. When trust is broken, how far will she go to protect her friends and reclaim their safety?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Dangerous Play is a compelling YA novel about a high school field hockey team led by Zoe Alamandar, who dreams of winning a state championship and earning a scholarship. After Zoe experiences sexual assault, the story explores themes of trauma, justice, and female friendship as the team takes matters into their own hands. Recommended for mature teens due to its handling of sensitive topics like sexual abuse and vigilantism.
Why we rated Dangerous Play 11IE
Dangerous Play is written at a Level 6 reading level across 272 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dangerous Play works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Dangerous Play as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Sexual Abuse, Vigilantism.
Thematically, Dangerous Play explores friendship, sports & recreation, social justice, coming of age, and female empowerment — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, sports & recreation, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781250750488
- Pages
- 272
- Publisher
- Roaring Brook Press
- Published
- 2021
- Type
- Fiction