Out of the tunnel
Patrick Jones
Out of the tunnel
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Patrick Jones
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if your entire town lives and breathes football, but the championship trophy has been missing for over ten years? In Troy, Ohio, football is everything, and Brian Norwood’s dad is a legend who never lost a game. Now, Brian is on the team’s frontline, but being part of the elite comes with surprises he never saw coming.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a small town where football is deeply ingrained in the community's identity, this middle-grade novel follows Brian Norwood, the son of a local football legend, as he navigates high school pressures and family expectations. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of sportsmanship, family legacy, and personal growth, with no significant content concerns for this age group.
Why we rated Out of the tunnel 9LE
Out of the tunnel is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 102 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Out of the tunnel works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Out of the tunnel as 9LE ("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, Out of the tunnel explores sports, family, coming of age, and school stories — 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, family, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Legends' Lair
Joe O'Brien
Legends' Lair
Joe O'Brien
At all costs
Patrick Jones
At all costs
Patrick Jones
Football Champ
Tim Green
Football Champ
Tim Green
Pass It Forward
Patrick Jones
Pass It Forward
Patrick Jones
Returning to normal
Patrick Jones
Returning to normal
Patrick Jones
Pass It Forward
Patrick Jones
Pass It Forward
Patrick Jones
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781467721264
- Pages
- 102
- Publisher
- Lerner Publishing Group
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction