What reading level is Friendship 7?

Friendship 7 by Michael D. Cole is at a Level 5-6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Friendship 7 appropriate for?

Friendship 7 is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety.

What genre is Friendship 7?

Friendship 7 is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Countdown to Space series.

Does Friendship 7 have any content warnings?

Friendship 7 has a HootRating of 10LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Friendship 7?

Friendship 7 by Michael D. Cole is 48 pages (approximately 4,771 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Friendship 7

Michael D. Cole

Friendship 7

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

First American in Orbit

by Michael D. Cole

Countdown to Space

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 5th 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

Experience the thrilling journey of John Glenn as he becomes the first American to orbit Earth aboard Friendship 7. Discover the challenges he faces in space and the courage it takes to make history in this exciting adventure. Learn about the groundbreaking mission that changed the future of space exploration forever.

Themes

Adventure Historical Science & Nature Friendship

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Friendship 7 10LE

Friendship 7 is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 48 pages (approximately 4,771 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Friendship 7 works for readers up to grade 7.4.

Read aloud, Friendship 7 takes about 32 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Friendship 7 as 10LE ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, Friendship 7 explores adventure, historical, science & nature, and friendship — 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 adventure, historical, science & nature.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 27 more books in the Countdown to Space series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.