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Lost & found

Jacqueline Sheehan

Cover of Lost & found

Lost & found

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jacqueline Sheehan

Reading Level 6-7 11ME Ages 13+ Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

After losing her husband, Rocky escapes to a quiet island in Maine where she takes a job caring for animals. There, she forms a deep bond with Lloyd, an injured Labrador, and together they begin to heal from their past wounds. As Rocky uncovers the mystery behind Lloyd’s injury and meets a mysterious archery teacher, she learns that even in the darkest times, hope and happiness can be found.

Themes

Loss & GriefAnimal WelfareFriendshipComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6-7 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include loss & grief, fear & anxiety, physical danger. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Lost & found 11ME

Lost & found is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 278 pages (approximately 77,442 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lost & found works for readers up to grade 8.1.

Read aloud, Lost & found runs about 8.6 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Lost & found 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Fear & Anxiety, Physical Danger.

Thematically, Lost & found explores loss & grief, animal welfare, friendship, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 13+ 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 loss & grief, animal welfare, friendship.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
  • ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

11ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Content Flags

Loss & Grief Fear & Anxiety Physical Danger
Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
6
Narrative Pace
3
Theme Richness
7
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
8

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Details

Book Length

278 pages
77,442 words
8h 36m read-aloud
ISBN
9780061128646
Pages
278
Publisher
Harper Collins
Published
2007
Type
Fiction
Word Count
77,442
Read-Aloud
~8h 36m
Text Density
Dense

Genres

Subjects

LossAnimal Welfare