The days lost
Shannon McCrimmon
The days lost
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shannon McCrimmon
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 crisp morning air fills Ellie’s lungs as her feet pound the soft earth of the mountain trail, Bosco’s paws thundering beside her. The scent of pine and wildflowers surrounds them, but today, the forest whispers a secret that will turn Ellie’s summer upside down. What she discovers deep in the woods will change everything she thought she knew about her family—and herself.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Ellie Morales as she navigates the summer after high school graduation while coping with the recent loss of her mother. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the story explores themes of grief, family, and self-discovery through Ellie’s encounters with a mysterious family and a boy named Sam. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it gently addresses adolescent grief and emotional growth without intense content.
Why we rated The days lost 9ME
The days lost is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 198 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The days lost works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The days lost 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, The days lost explores grief in adolescence, coming of age, family, friendship, and adventure — 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 grief in adolescence, coming of age, family.
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
- 9781494214814
- Pages
- 198
- Publisher
- CreateSpace
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction