Stealing Time
Anne Dublin
Stealing Time
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Jonah Wiley Adventure
by Anne Dublin
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
The tick-tock of a strange pocket watch fills the air, its hands spinning faster and faster. Suddenly, Jonah and Toby find themselves whisked away to ancient Egypt, bustling China, and royal France. Can two stepbrothers, thrown together by time itself, learn to trust each other before they're lost in history forever?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Stealing Time follows Jonah and his stepbrother Toby as they are unexpectedly transported to various historical settings through a magical pocket watch. Along the way, they confront challenges that mirror their real-life struggles with family changes and stepfamily dynamics. Suitable for ages 9-12, this middle-grade adventure offers themes of cooperation, resilience, and navigating family transitions.
Why we rated Stealing Time 9ME
Stealing Time is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 120 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stealing Time works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Stealing Time as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Stealing Time explores adventure, family, time travel, stepfamilies, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, family, time travel.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781459709751
- Pages
- 120
- Publisher
- Dundurn.com
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction