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Lost & found

Brooke Davis

Cover of Lost & found

Lost & found

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

a novel

by Brooke Davis

Reading Level 7 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

What would you do if the people you love suddenly disappeared? Millie Bird, only seven and full of hope, is left all alone when her mom vanishes from a local store. Alongside an old woman who's never left her house and a quirky man who types his words into thin air, Millie embarks on a daring journey across Western Australia—but will they find her mom before it's too late?

Quick Assessment

Lost & Found follows seven-year-old Millie Bird, who is unexpectedly abandoned by her grieving mother. The story explores themes of family, loss, and resilience as Millie teams up with two elderly companions on a journey to find her mother across Western Australia. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the book deals sensitively with grief and abandonment, making it a thoughtful read for ages 9-12.

Why we rated Lost & found 12ME

Lost & found is written at a Level 7 reading level across 365 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lost & found works for readers up to grade 9.0.

We rate Lost & found as 12ME ("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: Abandonment, Grief.

Thematically, Lost & found explores family, adventure, coming of age, and friendship — 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.
  • Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
  • Kids drawn to stories about family, adventure, coming of age.

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

12ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Clear
Social
Light
Thematic
Light

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

Content Flags

Abandonment Grief
Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

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
6
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
3
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

365 pages
ISBN
9781410479204
Pages
365
Publisher
Wheeler Publishing, Incorporated
Published
2015
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Family LifeLarge Type BooksAbandoned ChildrenGirlsSelf-realizationFriendshipOlder PeopleSelf-realisationPoetry

Places

Australia