Press play
Eric Devine
Press play
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Eric Devine
The text is written at a 7th 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
Greg Dunsmore is losing weight and gaining courage with every sweaty pound he drops. But when his camera catches a shocking secret about his town’s lacrosse team, Greg must decide if telling the truth is worth risking everything he’s worked for. What would you do if revealing the truth could change your whole future?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Greg Dunsmore, a boy working hard to lose weight and create a documentary to escape bullying. When he uncovers violent hazing within his school’s lacrosse team, Greg faces a tough moral choice about exposing the truth. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of bullying, peer pressure, and personal courage with realistic but sensitive treatment.
Why we rated Press play 12ME
Press play is written at a Level 7 reading level across 362 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Press play works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Press play as 12ME ("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: Bullying, Hazing, Physical Danger.
Thematically, Press play explores bullying, friendship, sports, coming of age, and documentary films — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about bullying, friendship, sports.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780762455126
- Pages
- 362
- Publisher
- Running Press Kids
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction