Lost in dreams
Roger E. Bruner
Lost in dreams
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
An Altered Hearts Novel
by Roger E. Bruner
The text is written at a 7th 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
The warm, dusty air of a remote Mexican village wraps around Kim as she steps off the plane, her heart pounding with the secrets she's carried all the way home. Every whisper and shadow seems alive with mystery, pulling her deeper into a world where faith and friendship collide. Can she uncover the truth buried beneath the silence before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Lost in Dreams follows eighteen-year-old Kim Hartlinger as she returns from a mission trip to a remote Mexican village, confronting secrets that challenge her faith and friendships. Suitable for middle-grade readers ages 9-12, this story explores themes of secrecy and Christian life with thoughtful sensitivity. Parents should be aware of the book’s focus on emotional and spiritual growth within a faith-based context.
Why we rated Lost in dreams 12LE
Lost in dreams is written at a Level 7 reading level across 368 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lost in dreams works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Lost in dreams as 12LE ("Light — 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, Lost in dreams explores secrecy, young women, christian life, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about secrecy, young women, christian life.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781602609624
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Barbour Publishing
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction