Football
Wendell Rydell
Football
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Wendell Rydell
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if you could step onto the football field and discover the secrets behind every play? Imagine learning the history, the cool terms, and meeting the legends who made the game unforgettable. But can you handle the thrill of the most exciting moments in football?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This book offers an engaging introduction to football, covering its history, key terminology, and notable players and games. Suitable for children ages 9 to 12, it combines factual information with engaging storytelling to spark interest in the sport. The content is appropriate for middle-grade readers and contains no intense or sensitive material.
Why we rated Football 9C
Football is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 128 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Football works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Football 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, Football explores sports, history, and juvenile literature — 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, history, juvenile literature.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Football
Ryan James
Football
Ryan James
Football
Blaine Wiseman
Football
Blaine Wiseman
Football
Ryan Nagelhout
Football
Ryan Nagelhout
Football
Karen Durrie
Football
Karen Durrie
Football
Cathleen Small
Football
Cathleen Small
Football
Clive Gifford
Football
Clive Gifford
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 020071824X
- Pages
- 128
- Publisher
- Abelard-Schuman
- Published
- 1971
- Type
- Nonfiction