In the Game

Name: In the Game
Author: Kiki Thorpe
ISBN: 9780736435277

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kiki Thorpe

Stepping Stone; Disney: The Never Girls

Reading Level 3-4 C · Gentle Ages 5-8 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links.

About This Book

Kate enjoys soaring through Never Land and scoring goals on the soccer field. When a playful leap at practice sprinkles fairy dust, she discovers magical adventures can happen anywhere, especially with Vidia, the speedy fairy, by her side. Join the fun as friendship and magic come together in exciting new ways!

Themes

Friendship Adventure Fantasy World-Building Sports

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 3-4 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated In the Game C (Gentle)

In the Game is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 128 pages (approximately 10,047 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 5 and up can manage In the Game on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, In the Game runs about 1.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate In the Game 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, In the Game explores friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building, and sports — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 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 friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building.

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?