Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run
Tom Angleberger
Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Tom Angleberger
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
Stonewall Hinkleman is the only kid who can travel back in time to the wild and messy Battle of Bull Run—and he’s got to stop a sneaky time traveler from changing history! Imagine using what you know about history to fight in a real battle. Can Stonewall save the day and keep history on track?
Quick Assessment
This humorous historical adventure follows Stonewall Hinkleman, a boy who dislikes historical reenactments but finds himself transported to the actual Battle of Bull Run during the Civil War. The story combines time travel and history in a way that engages middle-grade readers, ages 9-12, with light themes of conflict and bravery. Parents should note the presence of historical battle scenes, though they are presented in a kid-friendly, non-graphic manner.
Why we rated Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run 9LP
Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run explores humor, historical, adventure, friendship, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, historical, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780147511829
- Pages
- 192
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- May 15, 2014
- Type
- Fiction