Recruit
Chris Bradford
Recruit
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Chris Bradford
The text is written at a 6th 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
What if you were trained to be a secret bodyguard, ready to face danger at any moment? Imagine learning kickboxing, surveillance, and survival skills all to protect someone very important. But when the president’s daughter becomes the target of a hidden terrorist threat, will Connor’s training be enough to save the day?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Recruit is an action-packed middle-grade novel about a teenage kickboxing champion who joins a secret bodyguard training program. It features themes of family, friendship, and adventure, with realistic depictions of training and suspenseful missions. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains moderate tension related to terrorism and danger but is handled in a way appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated Recruit 11MP
Recruit is written at a Level 6 reading level across 250 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Recruit works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Recruit as 11MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.
Thematically, Recruit explores training, family, adventure, and friendship — 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 training, family, adventure.
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
11MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781524736972
- Pages
- 250
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction