What reading level is Smith?

Smith by Leon Garfield is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Smith appropriate for?

Smith is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9MP (Moderate — Physical).

Smith is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Smith have any content warnings?

Smith has a HootRating of 9MP (Moderate — Physical). 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 Smith?

Smith by Leon Garfield is 195 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Smith

Leon Garfield

Smith

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

the story of a pickpocket

by Leon Garfield

Reading Level 4-5 9MP 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.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

What would you do if you saw a crime happen right after you picked a pocket? Twelve-year-old Smith lives on the tough streets of old London, where danger lurks around every corner. When he witnesses a shocking murder, everything he thought he knew is turned upside down.

Themes

Adventure HistoricalLaw & CrimeFriendship

Quick Assessment

Set in eighteenth-century London, this historical adventure follows twelve-year-old Smith, a clever street-smart child who becomes entangled in a dangerous mystery after witnessing a murder. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains themes of crime and peril but is handled with suspense and without graphic violence. Parents should note the book includes moments of tension related to theft and danger.

Why we rated Smith 9MP

Smith is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 195 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 9MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from 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 friendship — 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 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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.