Ten Thousand Tries
Amy Makechnie
Ten Thousand Tries
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amy Makechnie
The text is written at a 7th 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.
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About This Book
The sharp whistle of the referee cuts through the cool evening air as Golden races down the soccer field, heart pounding with every step. Off the field, his dad’s weakening muscles remind Golden that some battles aren’t won with goals or trophies. Holding onto hope and grit, Golden faces a world where nothing stays the same — but maybe that’s where real strength begins.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows twelve-year-old Golden Maroni, a passionate soccer player whose life is challenged when his father is diagnosed with ALS. The story sensitively explores themes of illness, perseverance, and emotional growth, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12 who are ready to engage with topics of family change and coping with loss. Parents should note that the book addresses a serious medical condition and the emotional impact it has on a young protagonist and his family.
Why we rated Ten Thousand Tries 12IE
Ten Thousand Tries is written at a Level 7 reading level across 384 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ten Thousand Tries works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Ten Thousand Tries as 12IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — 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, Ten Thousand Tries explores family, sports, coming of age, illness & injury, and perseverance — 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 family, sports, coming of age.
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
12IE — Intense — 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781534482319
- Pages
- 384
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2021
- Type
- Fiction