Tommy Mcknight and the Great Election
Danny Kravitz
Tommy Mcknight and the Great Election
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Danny Kravitz
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here’s a secret: Tommy McKnight, who faces tough days because of polio and bullies at school, finds a spark of hope from a man named Franklin Roosevelt. Tommy decides to run for class president, but that’s only the beginning of his brave journey.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 1932, this story follows Tommy McKnight, a boy with polio who faces bullying but gains inspiration from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential campaign. It explores themes of self-confidence, resilience, and overcoming adversity, suitable for early readers aged 5-8. Parents should note gentle treatment of disability and bullying within a historical context.
Why we rated Tommy Mcknight and the Great Election 8ME
Tommy Mcknight and the Great Election is written at a Level 3 reading level across 96 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tommy Mcknight and the Great Election works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate Tommy Mcknight and the Great Election as 8ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Tommy Mcknight and the Great Election explores bullying, self-confidence, elections, disability representation, and historical — 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 bullying, self-confidence, elections.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8ME — Moderate — 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
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Tommy's race
Sharon Hambrick
Tommy's race
Sharon Hambrick
Tommy Bomani
Davy DeGreeff
Tommy Bomani
Davy DeGreeff
Tommy's rocket
Sharon Hambrick
Tommy's rocket
Sharon Hambrick
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Ron Knapp
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Ron Knapp
Tommy Trouble
Stephen Potts
Tommy Trouble
Stephen Potts
Tommy stands tall
Gloria Velásquez
Tommy stands tall
Gloria Velásquez
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781496525857
- Pages
- 96
- Publisher
- Capstone
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction