Million Dollar Goal, The
Dan Gutman
Million Dollar Goal, The
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
The rink is buzzing as Dawn skates hard, heart pounding with every pass. The crowd roars when the million dollar goal contest is announced—one shot could change everything. But will luck be on their side, or is a big mistake waiting just ahead?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows twins Dawn and Dusk, who are passionate about hockey and the Montreal Canadiens. When they get tickets to a big game and hear about a million dollar goal contest, excitement and challenges follow. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story includes themes of sportsmanship, sibling dynamics, and handling pressure.
Why we rated Million Dollar Goal, The 9C
Million Dollar Goal, The is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 167 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Million Dollar Goal, The works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Million Dollar Goal, The as 9C ("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, Million Dollar Goal, The explores sports & recreation, friendship, family, and adventure — 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 sports & recreation, friendship, family.
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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781423100836
- Pages
- 167
- Publisher
- Disney-Hyperion
- Published
- September 15, 2006
- Type
- Fiction