Smith
Robert Staunton
Smith
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robert Staunton
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Smith is no ordinary kid—he’s a clever 12-year-old pickpocket surviving the dangerous streets of 18th-century London. When he steals a mysterious document and witnesses a shocking murder, everything changes. What will Smith do when the hangman’s rope is closer than ever?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 18th-century London, this middle-grade play follows 12-year-old Smith, a pickpocket caught in a dangerous situation after witnessing a murder. The story explores historical social conditions and includes educational content like period maps and drama activities to support learning. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a blend of history and drama with mild peril but no graphic content.
Why we rated Smith 9LS
Smith is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 128 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Smith works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Smith as 9LS ("Light — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Smith explores historical, drama, social conditions, adventure, and education — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, drama, social conditions.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LS — Light — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780198312970
- Pages
- 128
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Fiction