What reading level is The orphan of Awkward Falls?

The orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves is at a Level 6-7 reading level (Lexile 950L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The orphan of Awkward Falls appropriate for?

The orphan of Awkward Falls is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Mentally Ill Antagonist, Mild Peril.

What genre is The orphan of Awkward Falls?

The orphan of Awkward Falls is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The orphan of Awkward Falls have any content warnings?

The orphan of Awkward Falls has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Mentally Ill Antagonist, Mild Peril. 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 orphan of Awkward Falls?

The orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves is 353 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

The orphan of Awkward Falls

Keith Graves

The orphan of Awkward Falls

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Keith Graves

Reading Level 6-7 11ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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 if moving to a quiet town meant stepping into a chilling mystery? Josephine and her neighbor Thaddeus, a brilliant but lonely inventor, find themselves hunted by a dangerous stranger from the asylum nearby. Can they outsmart the menace before it's too late?

Themes

Friendship Adventure Mystery Science & NatureJuvenile Fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Josephine, a new girl in town, and Thaddeus, her inventive neighbor, as they face threats from a mentally ill criminal. The story includes themes of danger and suspense, suitable for readers aged 9-12 who can handle mild peril and complex emotions. Parents should be aware of references to mental illness and violent behavior, presented within a fictional and suspenseful context.

Why we rated The orphan of Awkward Falls 11ME

The orphan of Awkward Falls is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 950L across 353 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The orphan of Awkward Falls works for readers up to grade 8.5.

We rate The orphan of Awkward Falls as 11ME ("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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mentally Ill Antagonist, Mild Peril.

Thematically, The orphan of Awkward Falls explores friendship, adventure, mystery, science & nature, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, mystery.