Lia Park and the Missing Jewel
Jenna Yoon
Lia Park and the Missing Jewel
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jenna Yoon
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.
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About This Book
The salty spray of the sea fills the air as Lia dives deep beneath the waves, her heart pounding with every stroke. Strange creatures glide past, and ancient magic hums beneath the ocean’s surface. In this mysterious underwater kingdom, saving her parents means facing dangers she’s never imagined—and discovering her own hidden strength.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows twelve-year-old Lia Park as she journeys to the mythical undersea kingdom of the Dragon King in Korea to rescue her parents from an evil diviner. The story blends Korean folklore with themes of courage, family, and self-discovery, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. While the tale involves magical peril and suspense, it remains appropriate for its age group without graphic content.
Why we rated Lia Park and the Missing Jewel 12LE
Lia Park and the Missing Jewel is written at a Level 7 reading level across 368 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lia Park and the Missing Jewel works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Lia Park and the Missing Jewel 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, Lia Park and the Missing Jewel explores adventure, family, fantasy world-building, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, family, fantasy world-building.
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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781534487949
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction