Falling Hard
Jessica Burkhart
Falling Hard
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jessica Burkhart
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
Abby just admitted her biggest mistake, and now her teammates are ready to strike back! With her friends pulling away and a new crush on the team, everything Abby thought she knew is changing fast. Can she find her footing before everything falls apart?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, rivalry, and personal growth set in an equestrian boarding school. Suitable for ages 9-12, it addresses social dynamics and competition in a relatable way, with no intense content concerns. The story highlights the challenges of making amends and navigating changing friendships.
Why we rated Falling Hard 11LE
Falling Hard is written at a Level 6 reading level across 288 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Falling Hard works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Falling Hard 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, Falling Hard explores friendship, family, animals, sports, 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 friendship, family, animals.
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
2/10A 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
- 9781665912976
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction