What reading level is Simone Biles?

Simone Biles by Heather E. Schwartz is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Simone Biles appropriate for?

Simone Biles is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Mental Health, Illness & Injury, Needles/Syringes.

What genre is Simone Biles?

Simone Biles is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Gateway Biographies series.

Does Simone Biles have any content warnings?

Simone Biles has a HootRating of 11IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Mental Health, Illness & Injury, Needles/Syringes. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Simone Biles?

Simone Biles by Heather E. Schwartz is 52 pages (approximately 5,119 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Simone Biles

Heather E. Schwartz

Simone Biles

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Heather E. Schwartz

Gateway Biographies

Reading Level 6 11IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up Page-Turner

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 intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

From a lucky visit to a gym at age six to making history as a groundbreaking gymnast, Simone Biles has amazed the world with her incredible talent and determination. Beyond her record-breaking medals and unique moves, she has shown bravery by speaking openly about her personal challenges, including abuse and mental health struggles. Her story inspires readers to overcome obstacles and stand strong in the face of adversity.

Themes

Sports Coming of Age FamilyMental HealthSocial Justice

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include child abuse, sexual assault, mental health. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Simone Biles 11IE

Simone Biles is written at a Level 6 reading level across 52 pages (approximately 5,119 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Simone Biles works for readers up to grade 8.0.

Read aloud, Simone Biles takes about 34 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Simone Biles as 11IE ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Child Abuse, Sexual Assault, Mental Health, Illness & Injury, Needles/Syringes.

Thematically, Simone Biles explores sports, coming of age, family, mental health, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

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, coming of age, family.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 19 more books in the Gateway Biographies 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 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.