Sabotaged
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Sabotaged
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Found; Sent; Sabotaged; Torn
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The text is written at a 8th 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
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to discover you're part of a secret that spans time itself? Jonah and his friend Chip suddenly get mysterious letters warning them they're 'the missing,' and strange things start happening—people vanish and reappear, and a hidden battle unfolds just for them. What will they do when they realize their very lives are caught between two powerful forces?
Quick Assessment
Sabotaged follows thirteen-year-old Jonah and his friend Chip as they uncover a thrilling mystery involving time travel, adoption, and hidden identities. Appropriate for ages 9-12, this middle-grade novel explores themes of family and self-discovery while delivering suspenseful action without graphic content. Parents should note the story includes some peril and tension but is suitable for readers ready for more complex narratives.
Why we rated Sabotaged 12ME
Sabotaged is written at a Level 8 reading level across 411 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Sabotaged works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Sabotaged as 12ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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, Sabotaged explores adventure, mystery, science & nature, friendship, and family — 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, mystery, science & nature.
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
12ME — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781410433626
- Pages
- 411
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction