The lost track of time
Paige Britt
The lost track of time
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Paige Britt
Illustrated by White, Lee, 1970- illustrator
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Penelope is told that dreaming won’t make her productive, but what if her imagination holds the key to something incredible? On a rare free day, she dives into a world where time twists and anything is possible. This adventure might just change how she sees herself—and why that matters more than anyone thinks.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Penelope, a young girl balancing her mother's practical expectations with her own creative dreams. It explores themes of imagination, self-discovery, and the mother-daughter relationship in a gentle, age-appropriate way for children ages 9-12. The story encourages readers to value creativity and personal growth without intense conflict or mature content.
Why we rated The lost track of time 12LE
The lost track of time is written at a Level 7 reading level across 306 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The lost track of time works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The lost track of time as 12LE ("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 lost track of time explores imagination, time, mothers and daughters, self-actualization, and juvenile fiction — 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 imagination, time, mothers and daughters.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Stolen Time
Danielle Rollins
Stolen Time
Danielle Rollins
The lost children
Carolyn Cohagan
The lost children
Carolyn Cohagan
Future lost
Briggs, Elizabeth (Young adult author)
Future lost
Briggs, Elizabeth (Young adult author)
Lost & found
Brooke Davis
Lost & found
Brooke Davis
The Space Between Lost and Found
Sandy Stark-Mcginnis
The Space Between Lost and Found
Sandy Stark-Mcginnis
Invisible Fault Lines
Kristen-Paige Madonia
Invisible Fault Lines
Kristen-Paige Madonia
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545538121
- Pages
- 306
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction