Saving Levi
Lisa Misraje Bentley
Saving Levi
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Left to Die, Destined to Live
by Lisa Misraje Bentley
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
What happens when a tiny baby with burns over most of his body is found alone in a field? Two caring people travel far to build a home for children without families, but then they face a challenge that will test their hearts and courage. Can they save this little boy’s life and give him hope for the future?
Quick Assessment
Saving Levi tells the story of a couple who travel to China to build an orphanage and encounter a severely injured infant abandoned in a field. This middle-grade fiction explores themes of adoption, resilience, and faith, while addressing the realities faced by abandoned children. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it sensitively handles difficult topics like injury and abandonment with hope and compassion.
Why we rated Saving Levi 9ME
Saving Levi is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 140 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Saving Levi works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Saving Levi 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, 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, Saving Levi explores adoption & foster care, family, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adoption & foster care, family, coming of age.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Lea Dives In
Lisa Yee
Lea Dives In
Lisa Yee
Saving the waifs
LeRoy Ashby
Saving the waifs
LeRoy Ashby
Saving Jessica
Lurlene McDaniel
Saving Jessica
Lurlene McDaniel
Saving Emily (Young Readers)
Nicholas Read
Saving Emily (Young Readers)
Nicholas Read
Fostering a child's recovery
Mike Thomas
Fostering a child's recovery
Mike Thomas
The Lost Love of a Child
Darlene
The Lost Love of a Child
Darlene
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781589974494
- Pages
- 140
- Publisher
- Focus on the Family Publishing
- Published
- 2007
- Type
- Nonfiction