SideStreets Books in Order
SideStreets is a 6-book series by Jacqueline Guest for ages 13+, at a grades 4–6 reading level, with moderate to intense content (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5).
- Books
- 6
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Moderate to intense
- HootRated 3–4 out of 5 · avg 3.2
SideStreets Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most SideStreets books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lightning Rider (Sidestreets) 2000 | Level 5-6 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 2 | Adrenaline High (Sidestreets) 2003 · C A Forsyth | Level 4-5 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 3 | On the Game (Sidestreets) 2005 · Monique Polak | Level 4-5 | 13+ | Intense |
| 4 | War Games 2009 | Level 5-6 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 5 | Thief Girl 2010 · Ingrid Lee | Level 4 | 13+ | Moderate |
| 6 | Gone Bad 2011 · Lesley Choyce | Level 4-5 | 13+ | Moderate |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. SideStreets (6 books by Jacqueline Guest) lands at a grades 4–6 reading level, with average content intensity 3.2/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All SideStreets Books
Lightning Rider (Sidestreets)
Jacqueline Guest
Lightning Rider (Sidestreets)
Jacqueline Guest
Adrenaline High (Sidestreets)
C A Forsyth
Adrenaline High (Sidestreets)
C A Forsyth
On the Game (Sidestreets)
Monique Polak
On the Game (Sidestreets)
Monique Polak
War Games
Jacqueline Guest
War Games
Jacqueline Guest
Thief Girl
Ingrid Lee
Thief Girl
Ingrid Lee
Gone Bad
Lesley Choyce
Gone Bad
Lesley Choyce
Series Like SideStreets: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Spenser by Robert B. Parker 5 books · Grades 3–4 · moderate to very intense content
- Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard 14 books · Grades 4–5 · moderate to intense content
- Jennie McGrady Mysteries by Patricia H. Rushford 11 books · Grades 3–5 · mild to very intense content
- Hardy Boys Casefiles by Franklin W. Dixon 4 books · Grades 4–5 · mild to intense content
- Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon 8 books · Grades 4–5 · moderate to very intense content
- Janie by Caroline B. Cooney 5 books · Grades 4–5 · moderate content
Questions about the SideStreets series
- What reading level is the SideStreets series?
- SideStreets books are at a grades 4–6 reading level (average grade level 4.8), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 13+. There are 6 books in the series.
- What order should I read the SideStreets books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most SideStreets books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Lightning Rider (Sidestreets) (2000); Adrenaline High (Sidestreets) (2003); On the Game (Sidestreets) (2005); War Games (2009); Thief Girl (2010); and 1 more.
- What age is the SideStreets series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends SideStreets for ages 13+. Content is moderate to intense (HootRated intensity 3–4 out of 5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.