We Could Be Heroes
Margaret Finnegan
We Could Be Heroes
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Margaret Finnegan
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
Hank Hudson is in big trouble after a misadventure with a book—and that’s just the start. When new friend Maisie enlists him to rescue a dog named Booler from a tough situation, Hank’s about to learn that being different isn’t a weakness, it’s a superpower. But saving a dog might mean saving more than just one life.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Hank, a ten-year-old boy with autism who teams up with a new friend to help a neighbor’s dog who suffers from seizures and neglect. The story explores themes of friendship, empathy, and standing up for what’s right, with age-appropriate content suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note positive messages about neurodiversity and kindness, with some mild consequences for rule-breaking.
Why we rated We Could Be Heroes 11LE
We Could Be Heroes is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, We Could Be Heroes works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate We Could Be Heroes 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, We Could Be Heroes explores friendship, coming of age, family, humor, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
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
3/10A 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
- 9781534445277
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction