Teaming Up (Soccer Stars)
Emily Costello
Teaming Up (Soccer Stars)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Emily Costello
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
Nicole’s soccer skills aren’t the only thing that makes her a star — her courage to face tough family troubles shines even brighter. Her teammates learn that winning isn’t just about goals on the field but standing together when life gets hard. Discover why true teamwork goes far beyond the game.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores themes of sportsmanship and friendship as Nicole navigates personal challenges at home. Suitable for ages 9-12, it highlights the importance of empathy and team support in children's social development. Parents should note the story addresses family issues sensitively without explicit details.
Why we rated Teaming Up (Soccer Stars) 9LE
Teaming Up (Soccer Stars) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 144 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Teaming Up (Soccer Stars) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Teaming Up (Soccer Stars) 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, Teaming Up (Soccer Stars) explores sportsmanship, friendship, family, and sports & recreation — 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 sportsmanship, friendship, 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
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
- 9780553486841
- Pages
- 144
- Publisher
- Skylark
- Published
- April 13, 1999
- Type
- Fiction