What reading level is Sports great John Elway?

Sports great John Elway by Larry Fox is at a Level 6-7 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Sports great John Elway appropriate for?

Sports great John Elway is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11C (Clear).

What genre is Sports great John Elway?

Sports great John Elway is nonfiction. Part of the Sports Great series.

Does Sports great John Elway have any content warnings?

Sports great John Elway has a HootRating of 11C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Sports great John Elway?

Sports great John Elway by Larry Fox is 64 pages (approximately 11,623 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Sports great John Elway

Larry Fox

Sports great John Elway

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Larry Fox

Sports Great

Reading Level 6-7 11C Ages 9-12 Sweet Spot 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 gentle with no concerning themes.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Discover the exciting journey of John Elway as he rises to become a legendary quarterback for the Denver Broncos. From his early days to his incredible achievements on the football field, experience the dedication and skill that made him a sports icon. Perfect for young fans eager to learn about one of football's greatest players.

Themes

SportsBiographyComing of AgeAchievementAdventure

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6-7 book with gentle content intensity. It's a Sweet Spot read — challenging text with gentle themes, ideal for advanced or 2e readers. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Sports great John Elway 11C

Sports great John Elway is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 64 pages (approximately 11,623 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Sports great John Elway works for readers up to grade 8.8.

Read aloud, Sports great John Elway runs about 1.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Sports great John Elway as 11C ("Clear") 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 John Elway explores sports, biography, coming of age, achievement, and adventure — 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, coming of age.
✓ 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 whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.