Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Jim & me
Dan Gutman
Jim & me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a baseball card adventure
by Dan Gutman
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Jim Thorpe was the greatest athlete the world ever saw, but his medals were snatched away in a shocking scandal. Now, Stosh and his rival Bobby dive back in time to clear Jim’s name and meet baseball legends like Christy Mathewson. What if saving a hero’s honor could change history forever?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows Stosh and his rival Bobby as they travel back in time to meet Jim Thorpe, a Native American Olympic champion whose legacy was tarnished by scandal. The story introduces real historical figures and explores themes of sportsmanship, injustice, and redemption. Suitable for readers ages 9-12, it includes mild conflict and historical context without graphic content.
Why we rated Jim & me 9LS
Jim & me is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 195 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Jim & me works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Jim & me as 9LS ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Jim & me explores friendship, adventure, historical, sports, and multicultural — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, historical.
- ✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Jim & me carries an award.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LS — Light — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780060594954
- Pages
- 195
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction