Run the game
Jason Myers
Run the game
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jason Myers
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if your biggest dream was to rock the stage, but your life was spinning out of control? Imagine juggling the thrill of music with the darkness of secrets that could break everything. Can love save you, or will it pull you even deeper into danger?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the intense and mature themes of drug abuse, violence, and prostitution through the story of a teenage guitarist struggling with addiction and a complicated relationship. Aimed at ages 9-12, it contains sensitive content that may require parental guidance. The book offers a raw look at difficult issues but is best suited for mature readers within this age group.
Why we rated Run the game 12IE
Run the game is written at a Level 8 reading level across 518 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Run the game works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Run the game as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Drug Abuse, Violence, Prostitution.
Thematically, Run the game explores love, rock groups, violence, drug abuse, and prostitution — 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 love, rock groups, violence.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781442446274
- Pages
- 518
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction