Red card
Daniel J. Hale
Red card
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Daniel J. Hale
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.
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About This Book
Zeke sprints down the soccer field, eyes locked on the ball, when suddenly a shadow leaps from the sidelines. The crowd gasps as something unexpected happens to Coach, and Zeke knows this game just turned into a real-life mystery. What secrets will unravel before the final whistle?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows thirteen-year-old Zeke Armstrong and his soccer team as they travel to Houston for the playoffs, only to uncover a dangerous mystery involving their coach. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends sports action with suspenseful detective elements, promoting themes of teamwork and courage. The content is appropriate for this age group, with mild tension related to the attempted harm of a character.
Why we rated Red card 9LP
Red card is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 170 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Red card works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Red card as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Red card explores sports, teamwork, mystery, friendship, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, teamwork, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A 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
- 9781929976157
- Pages
- 170
- Publisher
- Top Publications
- Published
- 2002
- Type
- Fiction