What reading level is The loose ends list?

The loose ends list by Carrie Firestone is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 680L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is The loose ends list appropriate for?

The loose ends list is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8IE (Intense — Emotional).

What genre is The loose ends list?

The loose ends list is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does The loose ends list have any content warnings?

The loose ends list has a HootRating of 8IE (Intense — 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 loose ends list?

The loose ends list by Carrie Firestone is 346 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The loose ends list

Carrie Firestone

The loose ends list

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Carrie Firestone

Reading Level 3-4 8IE Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

The salty breeze fills the air as the ship creaks beneath Maddie's feet, carrying her away on a journey full of sparkling ocean waves and unforgettable moments. She laughs with friends and feels the warmth of her grandmother’s smile, even as a quiet sadness lingers beneath the sunlit days. This summer holds magic and goodbyes, and Maddie’s heart is learning how to hold both.

Themes

GriefFamily Romance Coming of Age Adventure

Quick Assessment

This novel explores themes of grief, family bonds, and first love through the story of a seventeen-year-old girl facing her grandmother's terminal illness. Set against the backdrop of a unique cruise, it sensitively addresses loss and the process of saying goodbye, appropriate for older middle-grade readers and early teens. Parents should note the presence of death and emotional themes handled with warmth and hope.

Why we rated The loose ends list 8IE

The loose ends list is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 680L across 346 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The loose ends list works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate The loose ends list as 8IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — 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 loose ends list explores grief, family, romance, coming of age, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 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 grief, family, romance.

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.