What reading level is The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4)?

The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) by Jim Benton is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 780L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

Does The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) have any content warnings?

The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) has a HootRating of 9LE (Light — Emotional). 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 The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4)?

The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) by Jim Benton is 102 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4)

Jim Benton

The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jim Benton

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Franny K. Stein is the smartest mad scientist you’ll ever meet — and she’s about to prove it by traveling back in time to fix a big mistake. But when she meets her teenage self, things get wild in a mind-bending showdown that’s part science experiment, part epic battle. Can one Franny outsmart the other before time runs out?

Themes

Science & Nature Adventure Friendship Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book features Franny K. Stein, a young mad scientist who uses time travel to solve a personal embarrassment after her middle name is revealed at school. The story combines humor, science experiments, and imaginative time-travel adventures suitable for children ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the book includes mild peril and themes of self-identity handled in a lighthearted way.

Why we rated The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) 9LE

The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 102 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) as 9LE ("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 Fran That Time Forgot (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #4) explores science & nature, adventure, friendship, 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 science & nature, adventure, friendship.