The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore
Joan Lowery Nixon
The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Joan Lowery Nixon
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Christina steps out of her car, but a masked figure lunges before she can react. Darkness swallows her as she loses consciousness, waking up trapped in a cold, cramped basement. With her own family doubting her, can Christina escape the nightmare or is she truly alone?
Quick Assessment
This gripping mystery follows Christina Lattimore, who is kidnapped and held for ransom, only to find her family suspects her involvement. Suitable for teens aged 13 to 18, the story explores themes of trust, fear, and resilience amid suspenseful situations. Parents should note the presence of kidnapping and family conflict, handled with moderate intensity.
Why we rated The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore 9ME
The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 188 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore as 9ME ("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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Kidnapping, Family Conflict.
Thematically, The Kidnapping of Christina Lattimore explores mystery, suspense, family, trust, and resilience — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, suspense, 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
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
- 9780808555421
- Pages
- 188
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction