Error
Marcus Stroman
Error
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Marcus Stroman
The text is written at a 6th 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
Marcus Stroman isn’t just a baseball star—he’s a basketball player, a musician, and so much more. But why do people want to put him in a tiny box? When the noise from critics and online zings gets loud, Marcus has to find a way to rise above it all—and that’s a game everyone can learn to play.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel by MLB pitcher Marcus Stroman explores themes of identity, self-expression, and resilience through the eyes of a young athlete navigating sports and personal challenges. Suitable for ages 9-12, it addresses the pressures children face when others try to define them narrowly, offering a positive message about standing up to criticism and embracing multiple talents.
Why we rated Error 11LE
Error is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Error works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Error as 11LE ("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, Error explores friendship, sports & recreation, coming of age, and identity & self-discovery — 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 friendship, sports & recreation, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781665916189
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction