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The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5)

Tom Clancy

Cover of The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5)

The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Tom Clancy

Reading Level 5 10LP Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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

Engines roar as the Net Force team races against time, zooming through the sky to build the fastest spaceship ever. Suddenly, alarms blare—someone is trying to steal their secret design! Can they stop the thief before disaster strikes?

Themes

Action & AdventureSuspense/ThrillerScience FictionEspionage

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade adventure follows the Net Force team as they compete in a high-stakes global race to design an innovative spaceship, only to face sabotage and theft of critical technology. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story combines action, suspense, and science fiction elements with clear language appropriate for grade 5 readers. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and suspense typical of espionage-themed fiction.

Why we rated The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5) 10LP

The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5) is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5) works for readers up to grade 7.0.

We rate The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5) as 10LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Suspense.

Thematically, The Great Race (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adults, No. 5) explores action & adventure, suspense/thriller, science fiction, and espionage — 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 action & adventure, suspense/thriller, science fiction.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

10LP — Light — Physical
Emotional
Clear
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Content Flags

Mild Peril Suspense
Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

ISBN
9780606204200
Publisher
Turtleback Books
Published
August 1999
Type
Fiction

Genres

Computer networks

Subjects

Action & AdventureSuspense/ThrillerEspionageScience Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic