Listening for Lucca

Name: Listening for Lucca
Author: Suzanne M. LaFleur
ISBN: 9780385742993

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Suzanne M. LaFleur

Reading Level 3 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Siena can see into the past like no one else, and her visions are about to change everything. When her family moves to the foggy Maine coast, she discovers that the house holds secrets—and other kids who once faced the same challenge. What if unlocking these mysteries could help her little brother find his voice?

Themes

FamiliesBrothers and sistersParanormal fictionFamily life

Quick Assessment

After her family moves from Brooklyn to a Maine beach house, thirteen-year-old Siena finds an old pen that writes about Sarah and Joshua, siblings who lived in the same home during World War II and faced a similar struggle. Parents should know the book gently addresses a young child who has stopped speaking, family upheaval, wartime hardship, and paranormal visions. It suits readers who enjoy quiet mysteries centered on family and healing.

Why we rated Listening for Lucca LE (Mild)

Listening for Lucca is written at a Level 3 reading level across 229 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Listening for Lucca on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Listening for Lucca as LE (Mild, mostly 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, Listening for Lucca explores families, brothers and sisters, paranormal fiction, and family life — 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 families, brothers and sisters, paranormal fiction.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?