Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Missing!
Katie Dicker
Missing!
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Katie Dicker
Mystery!
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.
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About This Book
Discover puzzling stories of things that vanished without a trace, like ships left empty on the ocean and planes that disappeared in the strange Bermuda Triangle. Explore these curious mysteries that spark wonder and imagination about what might have happened to them.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.
Why we rated Missing! C (Gentle)
Missing! is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 24 pages (approximately 1,601 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Missing! on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
Read aloud, Missing! takes about 11 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.
We rate Missing! as C (Gentle) because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Missing! explores curiosities and wonders, juvenile literature, mystery, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about curiosities and wonders, juvenile literature, mystery.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
C · GentleReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
9/10High engagement — fast-paced, fun, and hard to put down. Great for reluctant 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
- 9781625882011
- Pages
- 24
- Publisher
- Smart Apple Media
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 1,601
- Read-Aloud
- ~11 min
- Text Density
- Light Text