Lion Down
Stuart Gibbs
Lion Down
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Stuart Gibbs
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
Here’s a secret: a mountain lion at FunJungle Wild Animal Park is suspected of a serious crime. Teddy Fitzroy and his clever girlfriend Summer aren’t convinced it’s as simple as it seems, but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Lion Down follows thirteen-year-old Teddy Fitzroy and his friend Summer as they investigate a mystery involving a mountain lion allegedly attacking a prized dog near a Texas animal park. Suitable for readers ages 9-12, this middle-grade mystery offers engaging detective work set in a wildlife park environment. The story includes themes of animal protection and problem-solving without intense violence or mature content.
Why we rated Lion Down 12LE
Lion Down 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, Lion Down works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Lion Down 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, Lion Down explores mystery, adventure, friendship, animals, and environmental awareness — 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 mystery, adventure, friendship.
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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781534424746
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction