Disn ey's The Big Green
J. J. Gardner
Disn ey's The Big Green
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a novel
by J. J. Gardner
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What happens when a new teacher arrives in a sleepy Texas town with a plan to start a soccer team? Anna Montgomery is ready to turn Elma's quiet streets into a buzzing soccer field. But can she rally the kids and win the game before time runs out?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows British schoolteacher Anna Montgomery as she moves to a small town in Texas and creates its first junior soccer team. The story highlights themes of teamwork, determination, and community spirit, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12. There is no intense content, and the book promotes positive sportsmanship and personal growth.
Why we rated Disn ey's The Big Green 9C
Disn ey's The Big Green is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 108 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Disn ey's The Big Green works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Disn ey's The Big Green as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Disn ey's The Big Green explores sports, friendship, family, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0786840587
- Pages
- 108
- Publisher
- Disney Press
- Published
- 1995
- Type
- Fiction