What reading level is Race to the bottom of the sea?

Race to the bottom of the sea by Lindsay Eagar is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 810L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Race to the bottom of the sea appropriate for?

Race to the bottom of the sea is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Race to the bottom of the sea?

Race to the bottom of the sea is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Race to the bottom of the sea have any content warnings?

Race to the bottom of the sea has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Race to the bottom of the sea?

Race to the bottom of the sea by Lindsay Eagar is 423 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Race to the bottom of the sea

Lindsay Eagar

Race to the bottom of the sea

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lindsay Eagar

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

A Junior Library Guild selection

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 salty spray stings your face as the waves crash against the creaking pirate ship. Beneath the churning sea, a secret treasure waits, buried deep where no one dares to dive. But when a clever young inventor is swept into a daring race against time and enemies, she discovers that even the fiercest pirate might hold a surprising secret.

Themes

Adventure Friendship Family MysterySteampunkPiratesComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade adventure follows eleven-year-old Fidelia Quail, a young inventor dealing with grief after losing her scientist parents in a submarine accident. Kidnapped by a notorious pirate, she must use her knowledge to recover lost treasure while uncovering unexpected truths about the pirate’s motives. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story combines elements of steampunk, sea adventure, and themes of loss, courage, and discovery.

Why we rated Race to the bottom of the sea 10ME

Race to the bottom of the sea is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 810L across 423 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Race to the bottom of the sea works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Race to the bottom of the sea as 10ME ("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, physical peril — 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, Race to the bottom of the sea explores adventure, friendship, family, mystery, and steampunk — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, friendship, family.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Race to the bottom of the sea carries an award.