There's a Girl in My Hammerlock
Simon and Schuster 1993
Great fit for 4th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
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Genre
Themes
- perseverance
- breaking gender stereotypes
- friendship
- self-confidence
- sportsmanship
- peer pressure
- identity
- resilience
About this book
Thirteen-year-old Maisie decides to try out for her school’s all-boys wrestling team and discovers just how tough it is to hold her ground on and off the mat. As she trains, she faces skepticism from classmates, tension with her best friend, and resistance from some teammates. Readers see her push through doubts, learn the sport, and find her voice. This is a relatable, sports-driven story for middle-grade readers who like realistic school dramas and strong, determined protagonists.
Setting: a suburban middle school in a small American town, contemporary (1990s)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is There's a Girl in My Hammerlock right for my child?
Yes — There's a Girl in My Hammerlock is a great fit for 4th grade. The reading level is AR 4.8, which is typical for 4th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include perseverance, breaking gender stereotypes, friendship.
How long does it take to read There's a Girl in My Hammerlock?
At a typical 4th grade reading pace, There's a Girl in My Hammerlock takes around 5.9h to finish. The book has 53,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does There's a Girl in My Hammerlock have an AR quiz?
Yes — There's a Girl in My Hammerlock has an AR quiz available, worth 7 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is There's a Girl in My Hammerlock?
There's a Girl in My Hammerlock has an AR reading level of 4.8, which places it at a 4th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.