Tournament of Champions
Phil Bildner
Tournament of Champions
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Phil Bildner
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
The squeak of sneakers echoes through the gym as Rip and Red step onto the shiny court, the basketball thudding against the wood beneath their feet. It’s not just any game—it’s a tournament that will push them beyond their comfort zones and test their friendship in surprising ways. Amid cheers and challenges, they’ll learn that being a champion means more than just winning.
Quick Assessment
Tournament of Champions follows two fifth graders, Rip and Red, as they navigate a weekend basketball tournament that challenges their friendships and personal growth. The story sensitively portrays Red’s experience with autism and explores themes of teamwork, sportsmanship, and inclusivity. Suitable for ages 9-12, this middle grade novel offers a positive message with relatable characters and accessible language, enhanced by engaging illustrations.
Why we rated Tournament of Champions 11LE
Tournament of Champions is written at a Level 6 reading level across 249 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tournament of Champions works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Tournament of Champions 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, Tournament of Champions explores friendship, sports, family, disability representation, 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 friendship, sports, family.
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
2/10A 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
- 9780374305086
- Pages
- 249
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction