What reading level is The lily pond?

The lily pond by Annika Thor is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 740L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The lily pond appropriate for?

The lily pond is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The lily pond?

The lily pond is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The lily pond have any content warnings?

The lily pond has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — 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 lily pond?

The lily pond by Annika Thor is 217 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The lily pond

Annika Thor

The lily pond

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Annika Thor

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

What would you do if you had to leave everything behind and start over in a new country? Thirteen-year-old Stephie Steiner faces this challenge when she escapes Nazi-occupied Vienna and tries to find her place in a strange, new city. But with her parents still trapped far away, can she find hope and friendship in the face of uncertainty?

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Family HistoricalJewish ExperienceWorld War II

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows thirteen-year-old Stephie, a Jewish refugee who flees Nazi-occupied Vienna to start a new life in Gothenburg, Sweden. The story sensitively explores themes of displacement, friendship, and hope during World War II, appropriate for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the historical context includes references to war and the difficulties faced by refugees, but it is handled thoughtfully and with care.

Why we rated The lily pond 9ME

The lily pond is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 740L across 217 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The lily pond works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The lily pond 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, The lily pond explores friendship, coming of age, family, historical, and jewish experience — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, 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.