What reading level is The Great Race?

The Great Race by Gary Blackwood is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Great Race appropriate for?

The Great Race is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9C (Clear).

What genre is The Great Race?

The Great Race is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction.

Does The Great Race have any content warnings?

The Great Race has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. 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 Great Race?

The Great Race by Gary Blackwood is 144 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

The Great Race

Gary Blackwood

The Great Race

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The Amazing Round-the-World Auto Race of 1908

by Gary Blackwood

Reading Level 4-5 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

A Junior Library Guild selection

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to race cars all around the world? Imagine roaring engines, daring drivers, and a journey that spans continents in the year 1908. Who will speed to victory in this thrilling adventure?

Themes

Sports & RecreationHistoryAdventureJuvenile Nonfiction

Quick Assessment

This book explores the historic 1908 Round-the-World Auto Race, introducing young readers to early motor sports and the challenges faced by drivers at that time. Suitable for ages 9-12, it combines nonfiction elements with engaging storytelling to capture interest in sports and history. There is no intense content, making it appropriate for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated The Great Race 9C

The Great Race 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, The Great Race works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The Great Race as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, The Great Race explores sports & recreation, history, adventure, and juvenile nonfiction — 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 sports & recreation, history, adventure.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — The Great Race carries an award.
✓ 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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.