What reading level is Rival?

Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 740L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Rival appropriate for?

Rival is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

Rival is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Rival have any content warnings?

Rival has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Rival?

Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer is 340 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

Rival

Sara Bennett-Wealer

Rival

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sara Bennett-Wealer

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

The sharp crack of laughter echoes down the school hallway, mixing with the buzz of whispered secrets. Two voices once inseparable now clash like thunder, each carrying a storm of feelings too heavy to ignore. What happens when the fiercest rival is the one who once held your heart?

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age FamilyMusicPopularitySchool Life

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, rivalry, and self-discovery through the lens of two former best friends turned adversaries in a high school singing contest. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story handles complex emotions like betrayal and forgiveness in a relatable way without intense or graphic content. It offers a thoughtful look at popularity dynamics and the challenges of growing up.

Why we rated Rival 9ME

Rival is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 740L across 340 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Rival works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Rival as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, Rival explores friendship, coming of age, family, music, and popularity — 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 friendship, coming of age, family.