Lost & found
Shaun Tan
Lost & found
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shaun Tan
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
A collection of three evocative tales exploring feelings of loss and hope. Each story invites readers to reflect on change and resilience, culminating with a powerful narrative about a world transformed. These stories blend imagination with deep emotion to resonate with young readers.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include loss & grief, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 11+.
Why we rated Lost & found 10ME
Lost & found is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 138 pages (approximately 2,448 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lost & found works for readers up to grade 7.6.
Read aloud, Lost & found takes about 16 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Lost & found as 10ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, Lost & found explores coming of age, family, and fantasy world-building — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 11+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, family, fantasy world-building.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
5/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545229241
- Pages
- 138
- Publisher
- Scholastic Inc.
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 2,448
- Read-Aloud
- ~16 min
- Text Density
- Picture-Heavy