Missing Magic

Name: Missing Magic
Author: Emma Laybourn
ISBN: 9780803732193

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Emma Laybourn

Reading Level 4-5 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

A Junior Library Guild selection

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

What if you got into a special school where everyone can do magic—except you? Ned is the only student without a single magical skill, and when mysterious Necromancers start kidnapping kids, he's the only one who might help. But how can you save your friends when you have no magic at all?

Themes

Adventure Fantasy World-BuildingSchoolFriendship Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

Missing Magic follows Ned, a boy who gains admission to an elite magical school but lacks any magical ability. As he faces challenges fitting in and a growing threat from sinister Necromancers kidnapping students, Ned must rely on his courage and cleverness. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains fantasy adventure with mild peril but no graphic content.

Why we rated Missing Magic LE (Mild)

Missing Magic is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 192 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Missing Magic on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Missing Magic as LE (Mild, mostly 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, Missing Magic explores adventure, fantasy world-building, school, friendship, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, fantasy world-building, school.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Missing Magic carries an award.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Mild

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

Reading 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

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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