The life of Dan Snyder
Shayne Clinkscales
The life of Dan Snyder
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shayne Clinkscales
Illustrated by Tenahua, Reyna, illustrator
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
Did you know Dan Snyder wasn’t just a hockey player—he was a hero on and off the ice? His journey took a sudden turn that changed everything, but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fictionalized biography explores the life and tragic death of Dan Snyder, a young hockey player for the Atlanta Thrashers. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively addresses themes of sportsmanship and spinal cord injuries without graphic detail, making it appropriate for readers interested in sports and real-life challenges.
Why we rated The life of Dan Snyder 9ME
The life of Dan Snyder is written at a Level 4-5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The life of Dan Snyder works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The life of Dan Snyder as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The life of Dan Snyder explores sports, injury & recovery, friendship, and coming of age — 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, injury & recovery, friendship.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
- ISBN
- 9781424302260
- Publisher
- Tucker Castleberry Printing
- Published
- 2006
- Type
- Nonfiction