Taking Chances
Kelsey Abrams
Taking Chances
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a Grace story
by Kelsey Abrams
Illustrated by Tejido, Jomike, illustrator
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
Here’s a secret: Grace has a wild streak that often leads to unexpected trouble. Now, she’s trying to be careful while helping care for a special cat named Chances—but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Taking Chances is a middle-grade novel about Grace, a spirited girl learning responsibility while helping her family care for animals at a Texas ranch. It highlights themes of family bonds, Mexican American culture, and the challenges of growing up. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story encourages thoughtful decision-making without intense conflict or mature content.
Why we rated Taking Chances 9LE
Taking Chances is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 116 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Taking Chances works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Taking Chances as 9LE ("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, Taking Chances explores mexican americans, responsibility, ranch life, sisters, and animals — 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 mexican americans, responsibility, ranch life.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781631631498
- Pages
- 116
- Publisher
- North Star Editions
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction