The disappearance
Rosa Guy
The disappearance
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rosa Guy
The text is written at a 6th 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.
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About This Book
What would you do if everyone thought you were guilty of something you didn’t do? Imamu Jones has just been set free but now faces a new challenge when the youngest daughter of the family taking him in goes missing. Can he clear his name before it’s too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Imamu Jones, a smart boy recently acquitted of a serious crime, who is placed in a foster home. When the youngest daughter of his new family disappears, Imamu becomes the main suspect, creating tension and a compelling narrative about trust and justice. Suitable for ages 9-12, this book explores themes of foster care and resilience without graphic content.
Why we rated The disappearance 11ME
The disappearance is written at a Level 6 reading level across 246 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The disappearance works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The disappearance as 11ME ("Moderate — 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, thematic difficulty — 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, The disappearance explores foster care, mystery, family, and justice — 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 foster care, mystery, family.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" 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
- 0440011892
- Pages
- 246
- Publisher
- Delacorte Press
- Published
- 1979
- Type
- Fiction