Simone Biles

Name: Simone Biles
Author: Anthony K. Hewson
ISBN: 9781532197390

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Anthony K. Hewson

Olympic Stars; SportsZone (ABDO)

Reading Level 5 I · Intense Ages 9-12 Heads Up Page-Turner

The text is written at a 5th 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. Its HootRating code, I, means intense content.

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About This Book

Discover the inspiring journey of Simone Biles as she overcomes challenges to become a gymnastics legend. This story delves into her determination, key career moments, and the strength it takes to shine on the world stage. Packed with interesting facts, timelines, and a helpful glossary, it brings her remarkable story to life for young readers.

Themes

SportsBiographyGymnasticsOlympicsComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include child abuse, sexual assault, needles/syringes. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Simone Biles I (Intense)

Simone Biles is written at a Level 5 reading level across 32 pages (approximately 1,488 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Simone Biles on their own.

Read aloud, Simone Biles takes about 10 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Simone Biles as I (Intense) 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: Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Needles/Syringes.

Thematically, Simone Biles explores sports, biography, gymnastics, olympics, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, biography, gymnastics.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Olympic Stars; SportsZone (ABDO) series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 9 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.

For Parents

Content Intensity

I · Intense

Emotional

Intense

Physical

Intense

Social

Intense

Thematic

Intense

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Heavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.