Winning kicker
Thomas J. Dygard
Winning kicker
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Thomas J. Dygard
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Nobody expects a girl to be the star kicker on a champion football team. But when she steps onto the field, she changes the game—and proves that courage and skill can break any barrier. What happens when the crowd starts to believe in her? Everything is about to change.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores themes of sportsmanship and breaking gender stereotypes through the story of a girl who becomes the place-kicker on a champion high school football team. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the book offers positive messages about determination and inclusion, with no intense content to worry about.
Why we rated Winning kicker 9C
Winning kicker is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 190 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Winning kicker works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Winning kicker as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Winning kicker explores sports, coming of age, family, and friendship — 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 sports, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 014034117X
- Pages
- 190
- Publisher
- Puffin
- Published
- 1990
- Type
- Fiction