If you find this
Matthew Baker
If you find this
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Matthew Baker
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
The creak of old floorboards and the faint scent of dusty paper fill the air as Nicholas tiptoes through the shadowy rooms of his family home. His heart races with every secret message he uncovers, and the thrill of a hidden treasure waiting to be found sparks a fierce hope inside him. But with school bullies and mysterious tunnels standing in his way, will Nicholas’s courage be enough to save the place he loves?
Quick Assessment
If You Find This is a middle-grade adventure that explores themes of friendship, family hardship, and bravery through the eyes of eleven-year-old Nicholas. Facing the loss of his home, Nicholas embarks on a thrilling treasure hunt filled with puzzles, séances, and unexpected allies. The story is appropriate for ages 9-12 and handles emotional challenges like financial struggles and loneliness with sensitivity.
Why we rated If you find this 12LE
If you find this is written at a Level 7 reading level across 358 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, If you find this works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate If you find this as 12LE ("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, If you find this explores friendship, family, adventure, mystery, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
If You Find This
Matthew Baker
If You Find This
Matthew Baker
The finding
Nina Bawden
The finding
Nina Bawden
Finders Keepers
Emily Rodda
Finders Keepers
Emily Rodda
The treasure hunt
Paul Hutchens
The treasure hunt
Paul Hutchens
Finders Keepers
Andrea Spalding
Finders Keepers
Andrea Spalding
The Lost and found
Mark Teague
The Lost and found
Mark Teague
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780316240086
- Pages
- 358
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction