The lost causes
Jessica Koosed Etting
The lost causes
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jessica Koosed Etting
The text is written at a 7th 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
Here's a secret: five teens with messy pasts suddenly find they can read minds, all thanks to a mysterious serum. They're called 'lost causes' — but now they have a chance to solve a scary murder in their town. And that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction novel follows five teenagers with troubled histories who gain psychic abilities through an experimental serum. They are recruited by the FBI to help solve a murder in their small town. The book contains themes of crime and personal challenges but handles them within a suspenseful, age-appropriate narrative for readers aged 9-12.
Why we rated The lost causes 12ME
The lost causes is written at a Level 7 reading level across 341 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The lost causes works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The lost causes as 12ME ("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, 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 lost causes explores friendship, mystery, science & nature, 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 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, mystery, science & nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781771388443
- Pages
- 341
- Publisher
- Kids Can Press Ltd
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction