Taking Sides
Gary Soto
Taking Sides
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gary Soto
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if you had to choose between two worlds that both feel like home? Imagine Lincoln, a talented basketball player, moving from his lively Hispanic neighborhood to a quiet white suburb. How will he keep his dreams alive when everything around him changes?
Quick Assessment
Taking Sides follows 14-year-old Lincoln Mendoza as he navigates the challenges of moving from a Hispanic inner city to a predominantly white suburban area. The story explores themes of identity, cultural conflict, and adolescence, suitable for teens aged 13-18. Parents should note the book addresses issues of racial and cultural adjustment in a realistic, thoughtful manner.
Why we rated Taking Sides 9ME
Taking Sides is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 172 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Taking Sides works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Taking Sides as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Taking Sides explores multicultural, coming of age, family, sports, and identity & self-discovery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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 multicultural, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0152046941
- Pages
- 172
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 1991
- Type
- Fiction