Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
List
Matthew K. Manning
List
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Matthew K. Manning
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Matty Giaconne finds comfort in creating lists that help him cope with being away from his family. But when a simple mission turns dangerous, he must rethink what truly matters most to him. This tale blends the challenges of a soldier's life with the innocence of childhood imagination.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 3-4 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include war & conflict, fear & anxiety, physical danger. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated List 8ME
List is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 41 pages (approximately 1,475 words). Strong independent readers around grade 4.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, List works for readers up to grade 5.1.
Read aloud, List takes about 10 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate List as 8ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: War & Conflict, Fear & Anxiety, Physical Danger.
Thematically, List explores coming of age, family, war & conflict, and adventure — 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 coming of age, family, war & conflict.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 3 more books in the EOD Soldiers series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
9/10High 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 EOD Soldiers Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781496531100
- Pages
- 41
- Publisher
- Capstone
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 1,475
- Read-Aloud
- ~10 min
- Text Density
- Picture-Heavy