World Series
John Tunis
World Series
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by John Tunis
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
Roy Tucker isn’t just any kid—he’s the secret weapon of the Dodgers in the toughest World Series ever. When the game looks lost, Roy’s courage and skill turn the tide, proving that heroes can come from anywhere. But can he lead his team all the way to victory?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Roy Tucker, a young baseball player from a small town, as he joins the Dodgers in an intense World Series showdown. Suitable for ages 9-12, it highlights themes of teamwork, perseverance, and courage in sports. The story contains mild sports competition tension but is overall an uplifting read for young readers interested in baseball.
Why we rated World Series 11LE
World Series is written at a Level 6 reading level across 268 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, World Series works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate World Series 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, World Series explores sports & recreation, friendship, coming of age, and teamwork — 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 & recreation, friendship, coming of age.
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
1/10A 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
- 9780785787587
- Pages
- 268
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction