The sixth man.
St. Sauver, Dennis
The sixth man.
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by St. Sauver, Dennis
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Brad is more than just a substitute on his basketball team. He has hidden skills that could change every game, but no one knows yet. And that's only the beginning of his big surprise!
Quick Assessment
This early reader fiction book follows Brad, a young basketball player who often sits on the sidelines as a substitute. It explores themes of perseverance and self-confidence suitable for ages 5-8. The story contains positive messages about teamwork and recognizing hidden talents without any concerning content.
Why we rated The sixth man. 7LE
The sixth man. is written at a Level 2 reading level across 34 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The sixth man. works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate The sixth man. as 7LE ("Light — Emotional") 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 sixth man. explores sports, 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 5-8 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, friendship, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalNo 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
- 088436075X
- Pages
- 34
- Publisher
- EMC Corp.
- Published
- 1974
- Type
- Fiction