Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly
Conrad Wesselhoeft
Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Conrad Wesselhoeft
The text is written at a 7th 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
The roar of dirt bikes fills the air, dust swirling under Arlo’s wheels as he races through the sun-baked trails. Then, the quiet buzz of drones takes over, sending him soaring into a world far beyond his backyard. But with every mission, the line between game and reality blurs, and Arlo feels the weight of a painful family secret pressing down.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Arlo Santiago, a video gamer and dirt bike enthusiast who is recruited to pilot military drones in real conflict zones. It explores themes of family loss, responsibility, and the challenges of growing up in a single-parent household. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book thoughtfully addresses the impact of violence and grief in a way accessible to younger readers.
Why we rated Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly 12ME
Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Death.
Thematically, Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly explores family, games, single-parent families, and coming of age — 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, games, single-parent families.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! 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.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780544542617
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Clarion Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction