The Lotterys more or less
Emma Donoghue
The Lotterys more or less
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Emma Donoghue
Illustrated by Hadilaksono, Caroline, illustrator
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
The crisp winter air smells like pine and cinnamon as Sumac Lottery wraps up the last of her family's holiday traditions. But when a surprise guest from Brazil arrives and doesn't want to leave, the cozy warmth of their family plans starts to unravel. Suddenly, everything Sumac thought she knew about family feels different—and more exciting—than ever before.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Emma Donoghue's sequel to 'The Lotterys Plus One' continues to explore the dynamics of a diverse family with warmth and humor. Targeted at middle-grade readers, the story centers on Sumac Lottery managing family traditions disrupted by an unexpected visitor. The book features positive representation of gay parents and family life, making it suitable for children aged 9 to 12.
Why we rated The Lotterys more or less 11LE
The Lotterys more or less is written at a Level 6 reading level across 285 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Lotterys more or less works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Lotterys more or less as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, The Lotterys more or less explores families, brothers and sisters, family life, lgbtq+ representation, and multicultural — 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 families, brothers and sisters, family life.
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
11LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781338207538
- Pages
- 285
- Publisher
- Arthur A. Levine Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction