Tony's last touchdown
Benjamin Jarman
Tony's last touchdown
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Benjamin Jarman
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
Tony isn't just playing football—he's fighting to score the last touchdown that could change everything for his family. On the field, every play is a chance to overcome tough challenges from home and school. Watch how Tony's courage and heart make this game about more than just winning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This easy-to-read sports story follows Tony, a young African American boy navigating family struggles and poverty while pursuing his passion for football. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an engaging narrative that touches on real-life challenges without heavy content, making it a positive choice for middle-grade readers interested in sports and personal growth.
Why we rated Tony's last touchdown 9LE
Tony's last touchdown is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 103 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tony's last touchdown works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Tony's last touchdown as 9LE ("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, Tony's last touchdown explores football, poverty, family, and multicultural — 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 football, poverty, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780766038851
- Pages
- 103
- Publisher
- Enslow Publishing, LLC
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction