Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Sports great Bobby Bonilla
Ron Knapp
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 gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.
We may earn a commission from these links.
About This Book
Discover the exciting journey of Bobby Bonilla, a talented baseball star who rose to fame through hard work and determination. Follow his path from a young athlete to a celebrated player admired by fans across the country. This inspiring story celebrates sportsmanship and the achievements of a Hispanic American hero.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Sports great Bobby Bonilla C (Gentle)
Sports great Bobby Bonilla is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 64 pages (approximately 8,218 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Sports great Bobby Bonilla on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
Read aloud, Sports great Bobby Bonilla takes about 55 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Sports great Bobby Bonilla as C (Gentle) because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Sports great Bobby Bonilla explores sports, biography, hispanic americans, coming of age, and family — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, biography, hispanic americans.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 63 more books in the Sports Great series.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
C · GentleReading 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
No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
8/10High engagement — fast-paced, fun, and hard to put down. Great for reluctant readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Sports Great Series
Sports great Jason Kidd
John Albert Torres
Sports great Jason Kidd
John Albert Torres
Sports great Emmitt Smith
John F. Grabowski
Sports great Emmitt Smith
John F. Grabowski
Sports great Juwan Howard
Jeff Savage
Sports great Juwan Howard
Jeff Savage
Sports great Chris Webber
Glen Macnow
Sports great Chris Webber
Glen Macnow
Sports great Mitch Richmond
Carl W. Grody
Sports great Mitch Richmond
Carl W. Grody
Sports great Michael Chang
Christin Ditchfield
Sports great Michael Chang
Christin Ditchfield
Sports Great Kevin Garnett (Sports Great Books)
Glen MacNow
Sports Great Kevin Garnett (Sports Great Books)
Glen MacNow
Sports Great Kobe Bryant (Sports Great Books)
Glen MacNow
Sports Great Kobe Bryant (Sports Great Books)
Glen MacNow
If your child liked this book, they might like these
Matched on content and themes — all rated for reading level and content intensity.
Barry Bonds
Michael E. Goodman
Barry Bonds
Michael E. Goodman
Willie Mays
John F. Grabowski
Willie Mays
John F. Grabowski
Heroes of baseball
Robert Lipsyte
Heroes of baseball
Robert Lipsyte
The story of the New York Yankees
Michael E. Goodman
The story of the New York Yankees
Michael E. Goodman
Greg Maddux
Norman L. Macht
Greg Maddux
Norman L. Macht
Baseball's Best Coaches
Nicole A. Mansfield
Baseball's Best Coaches
Nicole A. Mansfield
Goats of Baseball
Anthony K. Hewson
Goats of Baseball
Anthony K. Hewson
MLB
B. Keith Davidson
MLB
B. Keith Davidson
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0894904175
- Pages
- 64
- Publisher
- Enslow Publishers
- Published
- 1993
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 8,218
- Read-Aloud
- ~55 min
- Text Density
- Light Text