What reading level is Side Tracked?

Side Tracked by Diana Asher is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 690L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Side Tracked appropriate for?

Side Tracked is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Side Tracked?

Side Tracked is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Side Tracked have any content warnings?

Side Tracked has a HootRating of 8LE (Light — 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 Side Tracked?

Side Tracked by Diana Asher is 240 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Side Tracked

Diana Asher

Side Tracked

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Diana Asher

Reading Level 3-4 8LE Ages 5-8 Matched

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Not every hero wears a cape—some wear running shoes and face the wild world of middle school. This is the story of a misfit seventh-grader who joins the track team and discovers that winning isn’t just about crossing the finish line first. It’s about finding where you truly belong, and that matters more than any race.

Themes

FriendshipSports & RecreationComing of AgeSocial ThemesJuvenile Fiction

Quick Assessment

Side Tracked follows a seventh-grade boy navigating the challenges of puberty and fitting in through his new experience on the track team. Suitable for early readers aged 5-8, this book offers a witty and heartwarming look at friendship, personal growth, and social themes relevant to young children. Parents can expect a gentle exploration of middle school anxieties without intense content.

Why we rated Side Tracked 8LE

Side Tracked is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 690L across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Side Tracked works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate Side Tracked as 8LE ("Light — Emotional") 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.

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

Thematically, Side Tracked explores friendship, sports & recreation, coming of age, social themes, and juvenile fiction — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 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, sports & recreation, coming of age.