Finders keepers
Shelley Tougas
Finders keepers
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shelley Tougas
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
What if a hidden treasure from the infamous Al Capone was buried right in your backyard? Imagine teaming up with a new friend to uncover secrets that could change everything. But with time running out on their last summer together, will Christa and Alex find the treasure before it's gone forever?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade adventure follows two children who join forces to search for Al Capone’s lost treasure in Wisconsin. The story explores themes of friendship, family changes, and social issues, making it suitable for readers ages 9 to 12. Parents should note that while the book contains action and suspense, it maintains an age-appropriate tone without graphic content.
Why we rated Finders keepers 11LE
Finders keepers is written at a Level 6 reading level across 280 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Finders keepers works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Finders keepers 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, Finders keepers explores adventure, friendship, family, social issues, and buried treasure — 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 adventure, friendship, family.
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
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
- 9781596439900
- Pages
- 280
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction