Strong Like You
T. L. Simpson
Strong Like You
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by T. L. Simpson
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Not all heroes wear capes—some wear football jerseys and face the toughest battles off the field. When a star linebacker’s dad disappears, he must discover what real strength means beyond muscle and fame. What will it take to stand tall when the ones you look up to vanish?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of strength, masculinity, and identity through the story of a fifteen-year-old football player dealing with his father's absence and complicated legacy. It addresses poverty and family challenges in a realistic way suitable for readers ages 9-12, with mature themes handled thoughtfully. Parents should be aware of the depiction of drug-related family issues and emotional struggles.
Why we rated Strong Like You 11ME
Strong Like You is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Strong Like You works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Strong Like You as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Strong Like You explores coming of age, family, sports, identity & self-discovery, and poverty & hardship — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, family, sports.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Strong
Rob Kearney
Strong
Rob Kearney
Home-field advantage
Justin Tuck
Home-field advantage
Justin Tuck
Sports Tough Guys
John Devaney
Sports Tough Guys
John Devaney
Sports Stars
Mark Stewart
Sports Stars
Mark Stewart
Strong to the Hoop
John Coy
Strong to the Hoop
John Coy
Courage on the Football Field
Elliott Smith
Courage on the Football Field
Elliott Smith
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781635830941
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Flux
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction