Missouri

Missouri is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 144 pages (approximately 18,418 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Missouri works for readers up to grade 8.8.

Read aloud, Missouri runs about 2.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Missouri as 11IN ("Intense — Neutral") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Animals were harmed in the making, An animal dies, A dead animal, Someone dies, Someone is restrained, Finger/toe mutilation, Hands are damaged, Someone's throat is mutilated, Hangings.

Thematically, Missouri explores historical, science & nature, and survival — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.