Missing Manatee
Cynthia C. DeFelice
Missing Manatee
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Mystery about Fishing and Family
by Cynthia C. DeFelice
The text is written at a 4th 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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here's a secret: Skeet Waters just wants to catch the biggest tarpon ever, but when he finds a manatee hurt in the water, everything changes. Families can be tricky, and secrets run deep beneath the waves — but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel blends mystery, family dynamics, and a love of fishing set in Florida. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of divorce and environmental awareness with sensitivity and encourages readers to look beyond appearances. The story contains mild emotional tension related to family change and a mystery involving animal harm.
Why we rated Missing Manatee 9ME
Missing Manatee is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 125 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Missing Manatee works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Missing Manatee as 9ME ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Missing Manatee explores mystery, family, fishing, adventure, and florida — 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 mystery, family, fishing.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
The missing marlin
David A. Kelly
The missing marlin
David A. Kelly
Deep Sea Fishing
Kerri Mazzarella
Deep Sea Fishing
Kerri Mazzarella
The manatee
Jean H. Sibbald
The manatee
Jean H. Sibbald
Manatees (Our Wild World)
Kathy Feeney
Manatees (Our Wild World)
Kathy Feeney
Manatee on the move
Randy Houk
Manatee on the move
Randy Houk
Manatee
Donna Corey
Manatee
Donna Corey
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781466893597
- Pages
- 125
- Publisher
- Macmillan + ORM
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction