Age rating and parents' guide:Heat
by Mike Lupica
Ages 9–14
Heat by Mike Lupica is best for children aged 9–14. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Orphan hardship.
Twelve-year-old Michael Arroyo is an incredible Little League pitcher with a fastball that seems impossible for his age. Living in the shadow of Yankee Stadium, Michael and his older brother are secretly surviving on their own after the sudden death of their father, terrified of being separated by social services. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- None
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Orphan hardship
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
Great for kids who like
- Sports
Reading mood
- Playful
Good to talk about
- Sports
Books like Heat
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
Ages 9–14
Football Genius
by Tim Green
Twelve-year-old Troy White has an extraordinary talent: he can watch any football play unfold and predict exactly what the opposing team will do next. Troy longs to use his gift to help his favorite NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons, but getting adults and professional coaches to listen to a kid is nearly impossible.
Ages 9–14
Travel Team
by Mike Lupica
Danny Walker loves basketball more than anything and has natural talent, but he gets cut from the travel team simply because he is too short. Devastated, Danny gets an unexpected second chance when his estranged father—a former local basketball star—forms a new squad for the kids who were left behind. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 9–14
Booked
by Kwame Alexander
Twelve-year-old Nick Hall loves soccer and dreams of playing professionally, but life off the pitch suddenly gets complicated. Between his parents' impending separation, dealing with school bullies, and trying to impress a girl, he feels completely overwhelmed. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 9–14
Wonderstruck
by Brian Selznick
This unique story weaves two tales together fifty years apart. In 1977, Ben searches for the father he never knew after his mother passes away, told in words. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 9–14
Holes
by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats is plagued by bad luck, thanks to a curse placed on his great-great-grandfather. Sent to Camp Green Lake, a brutal juvenile detention facility in the middle of a dried-up desert lake bed, boys are forced to dig one five-foot hole every day. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 12–14
Ghost
by Jason Reynolds
Castle 'Ghost' Cranshaw has been running for the wrong reasons ever since a terrifying night with his father. When an Olympic medallist track coach spots his raw natural speed, Ghost earns a place on an elite youth running team. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
On these book lists
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.
Questions parents ask
Q: What age is Heat for?
Q: Is Heat appropriate for a 9 year old?
Q: What should my child read after Heat?
Love books yourself? Get paid to read with kids as a Bookbuddy