The Phantom Striker (Keystone Books)
Jonny Zucker
The Phantom Striker (Keystone Books)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jonny Zucker
Illustrated by Victor Tavares
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Tom and Dan's soccer team is about to get help from someone no one else can see—a soccer ghost named Harry. He’s ready to kick the ball like never before, but that’s only the beginning of their spooky adventure.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This story follows Tom and Dan as their soccer team struggles to win until they receive unexpected help from a friendly soccer ghost named Harry. Suitable for young readers around grade 2 reading level, it combines light supernatural elements with sports themes in a fun and accessible way. Parents should note the gentle ghost story content but no intense scares or mature themes.
Why we rated The Phantom Striker (Keystone Books) 7C
The Phantom Striker (Keystone Books) is written at a Level 2 reading level across 33 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Phantom Striker (Keystone Books) works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate The Phantom Striker (Keystone Books) as 7C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, The Phantom Striker (Keystone Books) explores sports & recreation, fantasy world-building, friendship, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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, fantasy world-building, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781598898491
- Pages
- 33
- Publisher
- Capstone
- Published
- September 2007
- Type
- Fiction