Fran Tarkenton
Jay H. Smith
Fran Tarkenton
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jay H. Smith
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
Fran Tarkenton dodges defenders, sprinting across the field with the crowd roaring. He's known as 'The Scrambler' because he never gives up, even when the game is on the line. But can he make the winning play this time?
Quick Assessment
This book introduces early readers to the exciting football career of Fran Tarkenton, a quarterback famous for his quick thinking and agility on the field. Suitable for ages 5-8, it highlights perseverance and sportsmanship without intense physical descriptions or complex themes.
Why we rated Fran Tarkenton 7LP
Fran Tarkenton is written at a Level 2 reading level across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Fran Tarkenton works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate Fran Tarkenton as 7LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Fran Tarkenton explores sports, adventure, and friendship — 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 sports, adventure, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LP — Light — PhysicalNo 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
- 9780898121674
- Pages
- 32
- Publisher
- Creative Paperbacks Incorporated
- Published
- March 1980
- Type
- Fiction