The Gum Race
Gabrielle Charbonnet
The Gum Race
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gabrielle Charbonnet
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The sharp snap of gum fills the classroom air every Friday, a sweet secret that makes school feel special. Ella loves those sticky, chewy moments—until a tricky prank turns her friends against her. Now, with courage bubbling inside, she's ready to win back the joy of Gum Fridays and friendship.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader book centers on Ella, a young student who faces challenges after a prank causes her classmates to be upset with her. She decides to run for class president to restore a fun tradition, teaching lessons about friendship, responsibility, and standing up for what you believe in. Appropriate for ages 5-8, the story gently introduces themes of elections and social dynamics in a school setting without intense conflict.
Why we rated The Gum Race 8LE
The Gum Race is written at a Level 3 reading level across 83 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Gum Race works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate The Gum Race as 8LE ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The Gum Race explores friendship, schools, elections, practical, and best friends — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, schools, elections.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 078684275X
- Pages
- 83
- Publisher
- Random House Disney
- Published
- 1999
- Type
- Fiction