Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Football Foul Play
Jake Maddox
Football Foul Play
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jake Maddox
Jake Maddox; Jake Maddox JV Mysteries
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.
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About This Book
Kenny and Romeo team up to solve the mystery of the missing football trophy, following clues and facing challenges on their way to uncover the culprit. Their friendship and determination are put to the test as they dive into an exciting sports adventure. Will they catch the thief before the big game?
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Football Foul Play 9C
Football Foul Play is written at a Level 4 reading level across 96 pages (approximately 9,859 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Football Foul Play works for readers up to grade 6.0.
Read aloud, Football Foul Play runs about 1.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Football Foul Play 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 Foul Play explores friendship, mystery, sports, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, mystery, sports.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Jake Maddox; Jake Maddox JV Mysteries series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
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
9/10High engagement — fast-paced, fun, and hard to put down. Great for reluctant readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Jake Maddox; Jake Maddox JV Mysteries Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781663911155
- Pages
- 96
- Publisher
- Capstone
- Published
- 2021
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 9,859
- Read-Aloud
- ~1h 6m
- Text Density
- Light Text