The Hockey Machine (Matt Christopher Sports Classics)
Matt Christopher
The Hockey Machine (Matt Christopher Sports Classics)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Matt Christopher
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What would you do if a fan kidnapped you and made you play on a professional hockey team? Thirteen-year-old Steve Crandall, a star center, finds himself trapped in a game where winning means more than just scoring goals—it’s about staying alive. Can Steve outsmart his captors and skate his way to freedom?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade sports fiction follows 13-year-old hockey star Steve Crandall, who is abducted by a fan and forced to join a professional junior hockey team. The story combines sports action with suspense and themes of survival, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12 who can handle mild peril and tense situations. Parents should note the book includes kidnapping and survival elements but no graphic content.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient 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
- 9780833595317
- Pages
- 109
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction