What Hearts
Bruce Brooks
What Hearts
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Bruce Brooks
The text is written at a 5th 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
Asa is no ordinary kid—he's a genius who discovers that life’s biggest lessons come from the smallest moments. From hitting home runs to facing challenges that test his heart, Asa learns that love isn’t just a feeling—it’s the most powerful force of all.
Quick Assessment
What Hearts follows Asa, a bright and thoughtful boy navigating important life experiences involving family, sports, and personal growth. Suitable for ages 9-12, this middle-grade fiction gently explores themes of stepparents and emotional resilience through interconnected stories. Parents should note the book offers positive messages about love and survival without intense conflict or mature content.
Why we rated What Hearts 10LE
What Hearts is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What Hearts works for readers up to grade 7.0.
We rate What Hearts as 10LE ("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, What Hearts explores family, friendship, coming of age, and sports — 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 family, friendship, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10LE — 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
- ISBN
- 9780061920424
- Publisher
- Perfection Learning
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction