Delaying the Game
Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Delaying the Game
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lorna Schultz Nicholson
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
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to play a new game with new rules? Kaleigh steps onto her all-girls hockey team, where everything feels different and challenging. But when she meets Shane, suddenly balancing hockey, friendships, and maybe even a crush feels like the toughest game yet—can she keep up?
Quick Assessment
Delaying the Game follows Kaleigh, a young girl navigating the challenges of joining an all-girls hockey team while learning new social rules and balancing friendships and early dating experiences. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story thoughtfully explores themes of emotional growth, social dynamics, and the pressures of fitting in. Parents should know it addresses common middle-grade concerns around interpersonal relationships and self-discovery in a relatable, age-appropriate way.
Why we rated Delaying the Game 9LE
Delaying the Game is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 105 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Delaying the Game works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Delaying the Game 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, Delaying the Game explores friendship, coming of age, family, sports, and social justice — 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 friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781550288940
- Pages
- 105
- Publisher
- James Lorimer & Company
- Published
- March 2006
- Type
- Fiction