What reading level is First team?

First team by Tim Green is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is First team appropriate for?

First team is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is First team?

First team is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does First team have any content warnings?

First team has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is First team?

First team by Tim Green is 327 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

First team

Tim Green

First team

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Tim Green

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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 sharp whistle of the football field cuts through the chilly morning air as Brock grips the ball tight, feeling the rough leather against his fingers. With his powerful left arm and his new friend Mak by his side, he’s determined to make the first team. But when old secrets start to surface, Brock faces more than just the game—can he find his place before everything falls apart?

Themes

Friendship Family Sports Coming of AgeInterpersonal Relations

Quick Assessment

First Team follows Brock, a young boy with a talent for football, as he navigates life in a new neighborhood and the challenges of fitting in. The story touches on themes of friendship, family struggles, and overcoming adversity, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should be aware that the book includes references to family hardship and past mistakes impacting the present, handled thoughtfully for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated First team 9ME

First team is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 327 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, First team works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate First team as 9ME ("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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, First team explores friendship, family, sports, coming of age, and interpersonal relations — 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 friendship, family, sports.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.