Frank Robinson
John C. Skipper
Frank Robinson
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Baseball Biography
by John C. Skipper
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The crack of the bat echoes through the stadium, the crowd’s roar fills the air, and the smell of fresh-cut grass wraps around every play. Imagine standing at home plate with Frank Robinson, feeling the thrill of every swing and the weight of history on his shoulders. His story is more than baseball – it’s about courage, breaking barriers, and never backing down.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This biography chronicles the life and career of Frank Robinson, a legendary baseball player and trailblazer who made history both on and off the field. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it highlights his athletic achievements and groundbreaking role as the first Black manager in Major League Baseball while providing context on his determination and leadership. The book is appropriate for ages 9-12 and contains no content concerns beyond themes of sports history and personal perseverance.
Why we rated Frank Robinson 11LE
Frank Robinson is written at a Level 6 reading level across 220 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Frank Robinson works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Frank Robinson as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Frank Robinson explores baseball, biography, african american, sports, and leadership — 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 baseball, biography, african american.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780786475612
- Pages
- 220
- Publisher
- McFarland
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Nonfiction