What reading level is Fighting for Dontae?

Fighting for Dontae by Mike Castan is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 750L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Fighting for Dontae appropriate for?

Fighting for Dontae is recommended for Ages 9-12. Content intensity: "Mild" (2/5). Content flags: Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Emotional: Family Change, Emotional: Bullying.

What genre is Fighting for Dontae?

Fighting for Dontae is fiction — California.

Does Fighting for Dontae have any content warnings?

Fighting for Dontae has a content intensity rating of "Mild" (2/5). Content flags include: Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Emotional: Family Change, Emotional: Bullying. On HootRated, every book is rated for emotional, physical, and social content themes to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Fighting for Dontae?

Fighting for Dontae by Mike Castan is 150 pages.

Fighting for Dontae

Mike Castan

Fighting for Dontae

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mike Castan

Reading Level 4-5 Mild (Lvl 2) Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Javier is no ordinary seventh-grader—he’s got a reputation that even the toughest kids in school notice. But when he meets Dontae, a boy with physical and mental disabilities, everything Javier thought mattered starts to change. What happens when standing up for a friend means standing up to the whole neighborhood?

Themes

Family Friendship Coming of Age Disability RepresentationMiddle Schools

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Javier, a Mexican American seventh-grader whose life takes a turn when he befriends Dontae, a classmate with physical and mental disabilities. The story thoughtfully explores themes of family struggles, social challenges, and personal growth within the context of middle school life. Suitable for ages 9-12, it handles mature topics like gang influence and disability sensitively without graphic content.