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 middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
A girl wanders through shadows, searching for a glimmer of hope. Nearby, a boy carries a strange, lost creature, unsure where it belongs. Suddenly, peaceful creatures face a frightening threat—will they find safety in time?
Quick Assessment
Lost & Found is a middle-grade fiction book featuring three interconnected stories about loss, hope, and belonging. Suitable for ages 9-12, it gently explores themes of empathy, resilience, and the impact of displacement, with no graphic content. The stories offer thoughtful reflections on finding what truly matters in challenging circumstances.
Why we rated Lost & Found 10LP
Lost & Found is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lost & Found works for readers up to grade 7.0.
We rate Lost & Found as 10LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.
Thematically, Lost & Found explores family, friendship, adventure, 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 family, friendship, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
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
- ISBN
- 9781338209235
- Publisher
- Scholastic US
- Published
- 2011-04-01
- Type
- Fiction