Taking sides
Gary Soto
Taking sides
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Theme Paperbacks on Level Theme 3 Grade 6 Taking Sides
by Gary Soto
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
What would you do if your heart was split between two teams? Lincoln Mendoza just moved from his old neighborhood to a new school where everything feels different. Can he stay true to where he came from while fitting in with his new team?
Quick Assessment
Taking Sides by Gary Soto explores the challenges faced by a fourteen-year-old Hispanic boy navigating a move from an inner-city neighborhood to a suburban school. The story addresses themes of identity, loyalty, and cultural adjustment through a relatable sports setting. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it provides an authentic look at the Hispanic-American experience without intense content.
Why we rated Taking sides 9LE
Taking sides is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 138 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 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 sides explores multicultural, coming of age, family, sports, and friendship — 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 multicultural, coming of age, family.
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
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
- 9780618062805
- Pages
- 138
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin
- Published
- 2001
- Type
- Fiction