Kid from Tomkinsville
John R. Tunis
Kid from Tomkinsville
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by John R. Tunis
The text is written at a 6th 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
Roy winds up, the ball flying fast and true, striking out another batter as the crowd roars. But just when it seems like nothing can stop him, a sudden accident changes everything. What will Roy do when he can’t pitch anymore?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Roy Tucker, a young baseball player who becomes a promising pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers. When an unexpected injury ends his pitching career, Roy must navigate new challenges to find his role on the team. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of resilience, teamwork, and adapting to change without intense content.
Why we rated Kid from Tomkinsville 11LE
Kid from Tomkinsville is written at a Level 6 reading level across 278 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kid from Tomkinsville works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Kid from Tomkinsville as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Kid from Tomkinsville explores friendship, sports, coming of age, and resilience — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, sports, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780152425678
- Pages
- 278
- Publisher
- HMH Books For Young Readers
- Published
- 1989
- Type
- Fiction