How to lose everything
Philipp Mattheis
How to lose everything
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Mostly True Story
by Philipp Mattheis
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of summer grass fills the air as Jonathan and his friends race their skateboards through the park. A hidden treasure found in an old house promises adventure and fortune, but the thrill soon fades into worry and tough choices. Years later, Jonathan looks back on how that summer changed everything—forever.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows four teenage boys in 1994 who discover a hidden fortune, setting off a chain of events involving stress, substance use, and difficult decisions. Eighteen years later, the protagonist reflects on how those experiences shaped his life and sense of purpose. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book touches on themes of friendship, growing up, and the consequences of choices, with light references to drug use and emotional challenges.
Why we rated How to lose everything 11ME
How to lose everything is written at a Level 6 reading level across 207 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How to lose everything works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate How to lose everything as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Substance Use.
Thematically, How to lose everything explores friendship, coming of age, family, adventure, and biographical fiction — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781936976409
- Pages
- 207
- Publisher
- Zest Books
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction