Hat Trick
Alex Morgan
Hat Trick
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Alex Morgan
The text is written at a 4th 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 sharp whistle blows and the thud of the soccer ball echoes across the field, mixing with the cheers and groans of the crowd. Devin and her friends are chasing their dreams of joining the soccer travel team, but as the competition heats up, so do the challenges to their friendships. Just when things get tough, a bigger problem looms that could take soccer away from Devin’s little sister—and the whole team might have to come together to save it.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Hat Trick follows Devin and her seventh-grade friends as they try out for a competitive soccer travel team, navigating the ups and downs of friendship and teamwork. The story also touches on real-world issues like school budget cuts threatening youth sports programs, offering a relatable look at perseverance and community support. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains mild competitive tension but no intense conflict or mature content.
Why we rated Hat Trick 9LE
Hat Trick is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 144 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hat Trick works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Hat Trick as 9LE ("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, Hat Trick explores friendship, sports, school life, teamwork, and community — 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 friendship, sports, school life.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481450973
- Pages
- 144
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction