Speeding
Kate Cann
Speeding
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kate Cann
The text is written at a 7th 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
What if you really wanted someone to be your friend, or even more, but everything around you keeps getting in the way? Imagine Rich trying everything to win Bonnie's heart, but challenges keep popping up like obstacles on a race track. Can he speed past all the trouble or will it slow him down for good?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows Rich as he navigates the complexities of friendship and young romance while facing various social challenges. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of social life and teenage relationships with relatable scenarios. Parents should know it presents typical middle school social dynamics without intense content.
Why we rated Speeding 12LE
Speeding is written at a Level 7 reading level across 369 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Speeding works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Speeding as 12LE ("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, Speeding explores friendship, coming of age, family, and social life — 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, coming of age, family.
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
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9780689859076
- Pages
- 369
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2004
- Type
- Fiction