Hit count

Name: Hit count
Author: Chris Lynch
ISBN: 9781616202507

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Chris Lynch

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

The sharp crack of helmets colliding echoes like thunder across the field, the air thick with the smell of fresh grass and sweat. Arlo Brodie feels alive in every bone-crushing hit, racing toward glory as his teammates roar and the crowd's cheers swell. But beneath the rush, a quiet worry lingers — how far can you push when every hit leaves its mark?

Themes

Sports InjuriesFriendship Family Coming of Age Sports

Quick Assessment

Hit Count follows Arlo Brodie, a passionate middle-grade football player who thrives on the thrill of the game despite growing concerns about his safety. The story realistically explores themes of sports injuries and the emotional conflicts surrounding youth football, including family worries and relationship strains. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an honest look at balancing love for sport with awareness of its risks.

Why we rated Hit count 10ME

Hit count is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 830L across 362 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hit count works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Hit count as 10ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, Hit count explores sports injuries, friendship, family, coming of age, and sports — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports injuries, friendship, family.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.