What reading level is The Game?

The Game by Lindsey Sanna is at a Level 7-8 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Game appropriate for?

The Game is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags: Mild Peril, Identity & Self-Discovery.

What genre is The Game?

The Game is nonfiction — Rap musicians. Part of the Hip-Hop series.

Does The Game have any content warnings?

The Game has a HootRating of 12LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Identity & Self-Discovery. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The Game?

The Game by Lindsey Sanna is 64 pages (approximately 8,552 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The Game

Lindsey Sanna

The Game

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lindsey Sanna

Hip-Hop

Reading Level 7-8 12LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 7th 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

Follow the journey of a young hip-hop artist as he rises through the challenges of the music world, discovering his voice and passion along the way. Experience the beats, struggles, and triumphs that shape his path to stardom.

Themes

MusicComing of AgeBiography

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 7-8 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, identity & self-discovery. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The Game 12LE

The Game is written at a Level 7-8 reading level across 64 pages (approximately 8,552 words). Strong independent readers around grade 8.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Game works for readers up to grade 9.6.

Read aloud, The Game takes about 57 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The Game as 12LE ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Identity & Self-Discovery.

Thematically, The Game explores music, coming of age, and biography — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about music, coming of age, biography.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 5 more books in the Hip-Hop series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.