Rough & tumble
Mark Bavaro
Rough & tumble
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Mark Bavaro
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Step into the challenging world of a pro football player as he faces the ups and downs of a tough NFL season. Experience the fierce competition, physical battles, and personal struggles that come with chasing victory on and off the field.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include physical/safety: physical danger, emotional: pressure & stress. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Rough & tumble 10MP
Rough & tumble is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 311 pages (approximately 99,553 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Rough & tumble works for readers up to grade 7.3.
Read aloud, Rough & tumble runs about 11.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Rough & tumble as 10MP ("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: Physical/Safety: Physical Danger, Emotional: Pressure & Stress.
Thematically, Rough & tumble explores sports, coming of age, friendship, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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 sports, coming of age, friendship.
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
10MP — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780312375744
- Pages
- 311
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 99,553
- Read-Aloud
- ~11h 4m
- Text Density
- Dense