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The lifters

Dave Eggers

Cover of The lifters

The lifters

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Dave Eggers

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

Here’s a secret: behind a silver handle hidden in a hillside lies a doorway to a mysterious underground world. Catalina Catalan, brave and unforgettable, is the only one who can open it — and now, you’re about to follow her into the unknown. But that’s only the beginning.

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery follows Gran's friend Catalina as she discovers a secret underground doorway and embarks on a magical adventure. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends themes of friendship and bravery with some fantastical elements in a suspenseful but age-appropriate way. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and mystery typical of juvenile fiction.

Why we rated The lifters 9LE

The lifters is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 341 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The lifters works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The lifters 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 lifters explores mystery, friendship, fantasy world-building, and adventure — 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.
  • Kids drawn to stories about mystery, friendship, fantasy world-building.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — 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

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

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

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Details

Book Length

341 pages
ISBN
9781524764166
Pages
341
Publisher
Yearling
Published
2018
Type
Fiction
Lexile
720L

Subjects

Detective and Mystery StoriesUnderground AreasMagicFriendshipTunnelsSupernaturalMonstersMovingHouseholdHousehold MovingFantasy & MagicSocial IssuesParanormal FictionDoorwaysSecrecyAdventure StoriesFantasy Fiction