What reading level is The golden specific?

The golden specific by S. E. Grove is at a Level 6-7 reading level (Lexile 820L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The golden specific appropriate for?

The golden specific is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11LP (Light — Physical). Content flags: Mild Peril, Missing Persons.

What genre is The golden specific?

The golden specific is fiction. Part of the Mapmakers series.

Does The golden specific have any content warnings?

The golden specific has a HootRating of 11LP (Light — Physical). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Missing Persons. 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 golden specific?

The golden specific by S. E. Grove is 501 pages (approximately 120,418 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The golden specific

S. E. Grove

The golden specific

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by S. E. Grove

Mapmakers

Reading Level 6-7 11LP Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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

At thirteen, Sophia and her friend Theo embark on a daring quest to uncover the fate of her missing explorer parents in a world reshaped by mysterious shifting borders. Their journey leads them through strange lands filled with secrets and challenges as they follow clues that could reunite their family. Adventure and friendship guide them through the unknown in this gripping tale of discovery.

Themes

Friendship Adventure FamilyFantasyMystery

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6-7 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, missing persons. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The golden specific 11LP

The golden specific is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 820L across 501 pages (approximately 120,418 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The golden specific works for readers up to grade 8.1.

Read aloud, The golden specific runs about 13.4 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The golden specific as 11LP ("Light — Physical") 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Missing Persons.

Thematically, The golden specific explores friendship, adventure, family, fantasy, and mystery — 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, family.

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.