Goats of Soccer

Name: Goats of Soccer
Author: Anthony K. Hewson
ISBN: 9781532196539

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Anthony K. Hewson

Sports GOATs: The Greatest of All Time; SportsZone (ABDO)

Reading Level 6 C · Gentle Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

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 gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.

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About This Book

Discover the thrilling world of soccer through the stories of the sport's greatest stars, both men and women, who have amazed fans worldwide with their talent and passion. Packed with exciting tales, vibrant photos, and helpful facts, this book celebrates the heroes who have shaped the beautiful game. Whether you're a budding player or a devoted fan, explore the legends and learn what makes soccer the most popular sport on Earth.

Themes

SportsBiographyInspirationMulticultural

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Goats of Soccer C (Gentle)

Goats of Soccer is written at a Level 6 reading level across 48 pages (approximately 6,345 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Goats of Soccer on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Goats of Soccer takes about 42 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Goats of Soccer as C (Gentle) 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, Goats of Soccer explores sports, biography, inspiration, and multicultural — 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 sports, biography, inspiration.
✓ 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

C · Gentle

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?