Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The dodgeball chronicles
Frank Cammuso
The dodgeball chronicles
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Frank Cammuso
Knights of the Lunch Table
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
When Arnie discovers a secret locker at Camelot Middle School, he finds himself thrown into an exciting dodgeball match against the school bullies. With quick moves and clever thinking, Arnie faces the challenge head-on in this fun and lively adventure. Perfect for young readers who love sports and comic-style stories!
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 2-3 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include bullying, mild peril. Written for readers ages 5-8.
Why we rated The dodgeball chronicles LE (Mild)
The dodgeball chronicles is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 141 pages (approximately 7,208 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 3 and up can manage The dodgeball chronicles on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
Read aloud, The dodgeball chronicles takes about 48 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate The dodgeball chronicles as LE (Mild, mostly 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying, Mild Peril.
Thematically, The dodgeball chronicles explores friendship, adventure, games, humor, and middle school — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, games.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LE · Mild · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
8/10High engagement — fast-paced, fun, and hard to put down. Great for reluctant 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
- 9780439903226
- Pages
- 141
- Publisher
- Graphix
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 7,208
- Read-Aloud
- ~48 min
- Text Density
- Light Text