Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Jackie Robinson
Irwin B. Bergman
Jackie Robinson
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Irwin B. Bergman
The text is written at a 7th 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
Discover the inspiring journey of Jackie Robinson, the trailblazer who broke baseball's color barrier and changed sports forever. Follow his courage and determination as he faced challenges on and off the field to become a legendary player. This story celebrates his legacy and the impact he made beyond the game.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 7 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include racial discrimination. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Jackie Robinson 12LS
Jackie Robinson is written at a Level 7 reading level across 79 pages (approximately 8,928 words). Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Jackie Robinson works for readers up to grade 9.0.
Read aloud, Jackie Robinson takes about 60 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Jackie Robinson as 12LS ("Light — Social") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Racial Discrimination.
Thematically, Jackie Robinson explores biography, sports, social justice, historical, and multicultural — 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.
- ✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about biography, sports, social justice.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Junior World Biographies series.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LS — Light — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
7/10High engagement — fast-paced, fun, and hard to put down. Great for reluctant readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Junior World Biographies Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0791017710
- Pages
- 79
- Publisher
- Facts On File
- Published
- 1994
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 8,928
- Read-Aloud
- ~1h 0m
- Text Density
- Light Text