Left out

Name: Left out
Author: Tim Green
ISBN: 9780062293824

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Tim Green

Reading Level 5-6 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links.

About This Book

Have you ever felt like no one really sees you? Landon Dorch wants to be just like everyone else, but his deafness and the way he talks make fitting in feel impossible. When he tries out for the football team, will he find a way to prove he belongs, or will he be left out for good?

Themes

Disability Representation Friendship Sports Coming of AgeBullying

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the challenges faced by a deaf boy navigating a new school and his dream of joining the football team. It thoughtfully addresses themes of disability, bullying, and friendship in a way that is age-appropriate for 9-12-year-olds. Parents should note the presence of mild bullying and themes of overcoming adversity.

Why we rated Left out LE (Mild)

Left out is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 341 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Left out on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Left out as LE (Mild, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — 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 mild intensity score.

Thematically, Left out explores disability representation, friendship, sports, coming of age, and bullying — 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 disability representation, friendship, sports.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Mild

Social

Moderate

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?