What reading level is The contender?

The contender by Robert Lipsyte is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The contender appropriate for?

The contender is recommended for Ages 9-12. Content intensity: "Mild" (2/5). Content flags: Mild Peril, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery.

What genre is The contender?

The contender is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The contender have any content warnings?

The contender has a content intensity rating of "Mild" (2/5). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery. On HootRated, every book is rated for emotional, physical, and social content themes to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The contender?

The contender by Robert Lipsyte is 167 pages.

The contender

Robert Lipsyte

The contender

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Robert Lipsyte

Reading Level 4-5 Mild (Lvl 2) Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

The gym smells like sweat and leather as fists fly in a blur. A 17-year-old boy dodges punches, his heart pounding louder than the crowd’s roar. Can he rise from Harlem’s streets to become a boxing champion, or will one last blow change everything?

Themes

African AmericansBoxingComing of Age Family

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows a 17-year-old boy from Harlem who pursues his dream of becoming a boxing champion. It explores themes of determination, identity, and the challenges of growing up in an urban environment. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story includes mild physical conflict typical of sports fiction.