Selections from Jackie's Nine
Sharon Robinson
Selections from Jackie's Nine
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Jackie Robinson's Values to Live by
by Sharon Robinson
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Jackie Robinson wasn't just a baseball star, he carried nine powerful values that helped him break barriers and change the world. These values come alive through stories and words from heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Oprah Winfrey—but that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This inspiring middle-grade book shares nine core values that guided Jackie Robinson, baseball legend and civil rights pioneer, to overcome challenges and achieve greatness. Written by his daughter, Sharon Robinson, it weaves together historical and personal reflections alongside quotes from other notable figures, making it suitable for ages 9 to 12. The book encourages discussions about perseverance, equality, and character development without exposing readers to any mature content.
Why we rated Selections from Jackie's Nine 9C
Selections from Jackie's Nine is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 153 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Selections from Jackie's Nine works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Selections from Jackie's Nine as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Selections from Jackie's Nine explores classics, history, biography, family, and social justice — 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 classics, history, biography.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780439396417
- Pages
- 153
- Publisher
- Scholastic Inc.
- Published
- January 2003
- Type
- Fiction