What reading level is Lost voices?

Lost voices by Sarah Porter is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 880L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Lost voices appropriate for?

Lost voices is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Abuse, Emotional Struggle.

What genre is Lost voices?

Lost voices is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Lost voices have any content warnings?

Lost voices has a HootRating of 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Abuse, Emotional Struggle. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Lost voices?

Lost voices by Sarah Porter is 291 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Lost voices

Sarah Porter

Lost voices

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sarah Porter

Reading Level 5-6 10IE Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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

The sharp, biting chill of the Alaskan sea stings Luce’s skin as icy waves crash around her. Just moments ago, she was left alone on the cliffs, scared and hurt, but now something incredible happens—her body begins to change beneath the cold water. As a new world of shimmering scales and mysterious voices unfolds, Luce wonders if she can find hope where she once felt only fear.

Themes

MermaidsSupernaturalInterpersonal RelationsSingingFictionResilienceIdentity

Quick Assessment

Lost Voices tells the story of Luce, a fourteen-year-old girl who escapes an abusive situation only to discover she has transformed into a mermaid. Set against the harsh backdrop of an Alaskan fishing village, this middle-grade novel explores themes of trauma, resilience, and identity through a supernatural lens. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains sensitive topics such as abuse and emotional struggle, presented thoughtfully for this age group.

Why we rated Lost voices 10IE

Lost voices is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 880L across 291 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lost voices works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Lost voices as 10IE ("Intense — 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: Abuse, Emotional Struggle.

Thematically, Lost voices explores mermaids, supernatural, interpersonal relations, singing, and fiction — 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 mermaids, supernatural, interpersonal relations.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.