Select
Christie Matheson
Select
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Christie Matheson
The text is written at a 6th 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
Alex races down the soccer field, the ball glued to her feet, her heart pounding as the crowd cheers. Suddenly, a challenge from the toughest opponent yet—can she keep her spot on Select, the elite team that could change everything? But one unexpected twist might just turn her world upside down.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows twelve-year-old Alex, a talented soccer player who earns a spot on an elite club team, Select. The story explores themes of ambition, competition, and the pressures young athletes face while balancing school and personal growth. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains mild sports-related tension but no intense content.
Why we rated Select 11LP
Select is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Select works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Select as 11LP ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.
Thematically, Select 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 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 sports, coming of age, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9781536492255
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Yearling
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction