Throwing stones
Kristi Collier
Throwing stones
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kristi Collier
The text is written at a 6th 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 happens when your biggest dream suddenly slips away? Fourteen-year-old Andy lands a spot on the high school basketball team, but an unexpected accident changes everything. Can he find a new way to shine and learn what sportsmanship truly means?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 1923 Indiana, this middle-grade novel follows Andy, a young boy who makes his high school basketball team but faces a setback due to an accident. As he turns to journalism, he explores themes of perseverance, sportsmanship, and personal growth. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book offers historical context and positive messages without intense conflict or mature content.
Why we rated Throwing stones 11LE
Throwing stones is written at a Level 6 reading level across 204 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Throwing stones works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Throwing stones as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Throwing stones explores sportsmanship, high schools, basketball, journalism, 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 sportsmanship, high schools, basketball.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780805076141
- Pages
- 204
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2006
- Type
- Fiction