I Am Roberto Clemente
Jim Gigliotti
I Am Roberto Clemente
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jim Gigliotti
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
The crowd roars as Roberto sprints toward the base, every eye glued to his swift moves on the field. But his greatest challenge isn't the game—it's the risky journey off the diamond to help those in need. What will happen when his two worlds collide?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade biography-fiction hybrid tells the story of Roberto Clemente, a legendary baseball player and humanitarian. Suitable for ages 9-12, it highlights his athletic achievements and his dedication to charity work, portraying themes of perseverance and cultural pride. The book contains no intense content and is appropriate for young readers interested in sports and inspirational real-life figures.
Why we rated I Am Roberto Clemente 9C
I Am Roberto Clemente is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 127 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I Am Roberto Clemente works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate I Am Roberto Clemente as 9C ("Clear") 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, I Am Roberto Clemente explores sports, biography, friendship, cultural pride, and humanitarianism — 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 sports, biography, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" 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
- 9781484404492
- Pages
- 127
- Publisher
- Scholastic, Incorporated
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction