Smith

Name: Smith
Author: Leon Garfield
ISBN: 9780613307420

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Leon Garfield

Reading Level 4-5 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

What would you do if a simple pickpocketing turned into a chase for your life? Smith, a clever but illiterate street kid, snatches a mysterious document and suddenly finds himself running from dangerous strangers. Who can he trust when he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit?

Themes

Adventure HistoricalLaw & CrimeComing of Age

Quick Assessment

Smith is a historical middle-grade novel about a young street-smart boy who becomes entangled in a dangerous mystery after stealing an important document. The story explores themes of adventure, justice, and personal growth, with some suspenseful moments suitable for ages 9-12. There is mild peril and crime-related tension but no graphic content, making it appropriate for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated Smith ME (Moderate)

Smith is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 195 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Smith on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Smith as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, Smith explores adventure, historical, law & crime, 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, law & crime.

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

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?