Sixth Grade Nickname Game
Gordon Korman
Sixth Grade Nickname Game
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gordon Korman
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Nicknames aren’t just silly names—they’re a secret code for friendship, and Jeff and Wiley are the masters of the game. When a new girl, Cassandra, arrives, finding the perfect nickname becomes the biggest challenge yet. But with a tough new football coach as their teacher, everything about school is about to change—and that’s a game they didn’t expect to play.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows two best friends navigating the ups and downs of school life through the fun and sometimes tricky tradition of giving nicknames. It touches on themes of friendship, social dynamics, and adapting to change, including a new teacher who is also the football coach. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story offers humor and relatable school experiences without intense content.
Why we rated Sixth Grade Nickname Game 9LE
Sixth Grade Nickname Game is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Sixth Grade Nickname Game works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Sixth Grade Nickname Game as 9LE ("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, Sixth Grade Nickname Game explores friendship, school & education, humor, and social issues — 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 friendship, school & education, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780786813353
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Disney-Hyperion
- Published
- June 1, 2000
- Type
- Fiction