The life and times of Muhammad Ali
Jon E. Lewis
The life and times of Muhammad Ali
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jon E. Lewis
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
Explore the exciting journey of Muhammad Ali, a legendary boxer who won Olympic gold and became a three-time heavyweight champion. Discover how he overcame challenges inside and outside the ring, celebrating his courage and lasting impact even as he faced health struggles later in life. His story inspires with strength, determination, and heart.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 7 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include physical danger, illness & injury. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated The life and times of Muhammad Ali 12LP
The life and times of Muhammad Ali is written at a Level 7 reading level across 48 pages (approximately 7,937 words). Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The life and times of Muhammad Ali works for readers up to grade 9.0.
Read aloud, The life and times of Muhammad Ali takes about 53 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate The life and times of Muhammad Ali as 12LP ("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: Physical Danger, Illness & Injury.
Thematically, The life and times of Muhammad Ali explores biography, sports, african american history, coming of age, and perseverance — 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.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about biography, sports, african american history.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Life and Times Of 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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0791046419
- Pages
- 48
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 7,937
- Read-Aloud
- ~53 min
- Text Density
- Standard