The Long Way Around
Jimmie Hand
The Long Way Around
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jimmie Hand
The text is written at a 4th 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
What if your biggest dream feels impossible to reach? Matt Devon has spent four years behind bars, but he still imagines throwing the winning touchdown as a quarterback. Will he find a way to make his dream come true against all odds?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Matt Devon, a young boy serving time in a New Mexico prison, who dreams of playing football and winning a championship. The story explores themes of hope, perseverance, and personal growth in challenging social situations. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively addresses the realities of incarceration without graphic detail.
Why we rated The Long Way Around 9LS
The Long Way Around is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Long Way Around works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Long Way Around as 9LS ("Light — Social") 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 Long Way Around explores sports & recreation, friendship, perseverance, and social situations — 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 & recreation, friendship, perseverance.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LS — Light — SocialLight 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
- 9780970899279
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Scobre Press
- Published
- September 2003
- Type
- Fiction