The American Lobster
Francis Hobart Herrick
The American Lobster
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Study of Its Habits and Development
by Francis Hobart Herrick
The text is written at a 7th 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
Ben grips the wheel of the Owl as the sea spray stings his face. Suddenly, a lobster speaks! "Please don't eat me!" Liam pleads, his voice clear above the waves. Can a clever lobster outsmart the fishermen and save his friends from the lobster pound?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set on the waters off Cape Cod, this engaging middle-grade adventure features a talking lobster named Liam who leads a daring escape from a lobster pound. The story combines elements of action and friendship with a touch of humor, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note that while the story involves animal characters in peril, the tone remains light and imaginative.
Why we rated The American Lobster 12LE
The American Lobster is written at a Level 7 reading level across 390 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The American Lobster works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The American Lobster as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, The American Lobster explores adventure, friendship, animals, and humor — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, friendship, animals.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780578329550
- Pages
- 390
- Publisher
- Codfish Press
- Published
- 1895
- Type
- Fiction