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The last wild

Piers Torday

Cover of The last wild

The last wild

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Piers Torday

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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

What if the last wild animals on Earth were hidden away, forgotten and in danger? Imagine a world where a brave boy must uncover their secret and save them before it's too late. But what if the biggest threat isn't just nature—but something much closer to home?

Themes

AnimalsAction & AdventureHumorous StoriesDiseaseEnvironmental AwarenessFriendshipComing of Age

Quick Assessment

The Last Wild is a middle-grade adventure about a boy's quest to protect the last surviving wild animals in a world plagued by disease and environmental change. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it combines humor with themes of conservation and bravery. Parents should note the story includes some peril and references to animal illness, handled in a way appropriate for this age group.

Why we rated The last wild 10LE

The last wild is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 820L across 322 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The last wild works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The last wild as 10LE ("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 last wild explores animals, action & adventure, humorous stories, disease, and environmental awareness — 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 animals, action & adventure, humorous stories.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

10LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
7
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

322 pages
ISBN
9780670015542
Pages
322
Publisher
Penguin
Published
2021
Type
Fiction
Lexile
820L

Genres

Subjects

Humorous StoriesAnimalsDiseasesAction & AdventureQuestsFantasy & MagicScience FictionSelective MutismHuman-animal Communication