What reading level is The sixth man?

The sixth man by John Feinstein is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 760L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The sixth man appropriate for?

The sixth man is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags: Mild Peril.

What genre is The sixth man?

The sixth man is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The sixth man have any content warnings?

The sixth man has a HootRating of 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags include: Mild Peril. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The sixth man?

The sixth man by John Feinstein is 298 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The sixth man

John Feinstein

The sixth man

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by John Feinstein

Reading Level 4-5 9LP Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Max Bellotti isn’t just any player—he’s the secret weapon who could take the Lions all the way to the championship. But what if his biggest secret threatens to bench him for good? The game is on the line, and everything depends on whether Max can keep his cool.

Themes

SchoolsBasketballHigh schoolsSecretsCoaches (Athletics)

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction novel follows Max Bellotti, a talented new basketball player with a secret that could impact his high school team’s success. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of sportsmanship, teamwork, and the challenges of keeping secrets in a school environment. Parents should note the story includes typical middle school social dynamics and mild tension related to competition and personal challenges.

Why we rated The sixth man 9LP

The sixth man is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 760L across 298 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The sixth man works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The sixth man as 9LP ("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: Mild Peril.

Thematically, The sixth man explores schools, basketball, high schools, secrets, and coaches (athletics) — 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 schools, basketball, high schools.