Foul play at Elm Tree Park
Trisha Speed Shaskan
Foul play at Elm Tree Park
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Trisha Speed Shaskan
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Who could have stolen the famous signed baseball from Elm Tree Park? Q just joined the baseball team, and Ray would rather be buried in a book, but now they must work together to solve the mystery. Can they find the culprit before the game is ruined?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader mystery features Q and Ray teaming up to solve the theft of a signed baseball at Elm Tree Park. Suitable for ages 5-8, it blends themes of friendship, problem-solving, and sportsmanship with engaging illustrations in a graphic novel format. The story encourages critical thinking and teamwork without any intense content.
Why we rated Foul play at Elm Tree Park 7C
Foul play at Elm Tree Park is written at a Level 2 reading level across 46 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Foul play at Elm Tree Park works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Foul play at Elm Tree Park as 7C ("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, Foul play at Elm Tree Park explores mystery, friendship, sports, and graphic novels — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, friendship, sports.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781541526440
- Pages
- 46
- Publisher
- Graphic Universe
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Nonfiction