What reading level is Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero?

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero appropriate for?

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero?

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero have any content warnings?

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero?

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist is 208 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero

Kelly J. Baptist

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kelly J. Baptist

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Matched

A Junior Library Guild selection

The text is written at a 6th 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.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible Find on Bookshop.org

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Isaiah Dunn is a superhero — but not the kind with capes and laser eyes. His powers come from beans and rice, and his greatest strength is never giving up, even when life feels really hard. What would you do if you had to be the big kid in the house and find your own kind of courage?

Themes

Coming of Age Family Friendship MulticulturalAfrican Americans

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Isaiah, a ten-year-old boy navigating family loss and new responsibilities while discovering a love for poetry through his late father's journal. The story sensitively explores themes of grief, resilience, and friendship, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the book handles emotional challenges with warmth and optimism.

Why we rated Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero 11ME

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero as 11ME ("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 — 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, Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero explores coming of age, family, friendship, multicultural, and african americans — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

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 coming of age, family, friendship.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero carries an award.

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.