What reading level is John Glenn, astronaut and senator?

John Glenn, astronaut and senator by Michael D. Cole is at a Level 8-9 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is John Glenn, astronaut and senator appropriate for?

John Glenn, astronaut and senator is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12C (Clear).

What genre is John Glenn, astronaut and senator?

John Glenn, astronaut and senator is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the People to Know (Enslow) series.

Does John Glenn, astronaut and senator have any content warnings?

John Glenn, astronaut and senator has a HootRating of 12C (Clear). 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 John Glenn, astronaut and senator?

John Glenn, astronaut and senator by Michael D. Cole is 112 pages (approximately 17,143 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

John Glenn, astronaut and senator

Michael D. Cole

John Glenn, astronaut and senator

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Astronaut and Senator

by Michael D. Cole

People to Know (Enslow)

Reading Level 8-9 12C Ages 9-12 Sweet Spot Page-Turner

The text is written at a 8th 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

Discover the inspiring journey of John Glenn, from his humble beginnings in a small Ohio town to soaring as a pioneering astronaut and serving as a dedicated senator. Experience the excitement of space exploration alongside his remarkable return to orbit in 1998. This captivating story celebrates courage, determination, and public service.

Themes

BiographyAdventure Science & Nature Historical Coming of AgePublic Service

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 8-9 book with gentle content intensity. It's a Sweet Spot read — challenging text with gentle themes, ideal for advanced or 2e readers. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated John Glenn, astronaut and senator 12C

John Glenn, astronaut and senator is written at a Level 8-9 reading level across 112 pages (approximately 17,143 words). Strong independent readers around grade 9.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, John Glenn, astronaut and senator works for readers up to grade 10.1.

Read aloud, John Glenn, astronaut and senator runs about 1.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate John Glenn, astronaut and senator as 12C ("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, John Glenn, astronaut and senator explores biography, adventure, science & nature, historical, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about biography, adventure, science & nature.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 10 more books in the People to Know (Enslow) 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.