The ostrich and other lost things
Beth Hautala
The ostrich and other lost things
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Beth Hautala
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
Olivia dashes through the bustling community theater, clutching her audition script tight. She’s determined to step out of her brother Jacob’s shadow, but just as she’s about to shine, chaos erupts—a mischievous ostrich from the zoo has escaped and is causing a commotion! Can Olivia keep her dreams alive while everything around her spirals out of control?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the complex dynamics of sibling relationships, particularly focusing on an eleven-year-old girl, Olivia, who cares for her autistic brother, Jacob. As Olivia seeks her own identity amid family challenges, the story sensitively addresses themes of autism, caregiving, and self-discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book offers a heartfelt perspective on neurodiversity and family bonds without graphic content.
Why we rated The ostrich and other lost things 11ME
The ostrich and other lost things is written at a Level 6 reading level across 281 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The ostrich and other lost things works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The ostrich and other lost things 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, 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 ostrich and other lost things explores family, neurodivergent characters, sibling relationships, self-discovery, 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 family, neurodivergent characters, sibling relationships.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — 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
1/10A 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
- 9780399546068
- Pages
- 281
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction