What reading level is The rise of Lubchenko?

The rise of Lubchenko by Simmons, Michael is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The rise of Lubchenko appropriate for?

The rise of Lubchenko is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The rise of Lubchenko?

The rise of Lubchenko is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The rise of Lubchenko have any content warnings?

The rise of Lubchenko has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. 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 rise of Lubchenko?

The rise of Lubchenko by Simmons, Michael is 217 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

The rise of Lubchenko

Simmons, Michael

The rise of Lubchenko

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Simmons, Michael

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Matched

A Junior Library Guild selection

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

Here's a secret: Evan's father's business partner might be selling dangerous viruses to terrorists and stopping anyone who tries to expose him. Now Evan and his friends are racing to find the mysterious Lubchenko in France, hoping this spymaster can help them stop a disaster. But that's only the beginning.

Themes

Adventure Friendship FamilyJuvenile FictionBioterrorismCrime

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade thriller follows sixteen-year-old Evan as he uncovers a dangerous plot involving bioterrorism and murder. Set against an international backdrop, the story explores themes of trust, bravery, and the complex relationship between fathers and sons. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains suspenseful moments but no graphic content.

Why we rated The rise of Lubchenko 11ME

The rise of Lubchenko is written at a Level 6 reading level across 217 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The rise of Lubchenko works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate The rise of Lubchenko 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, 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 rise of Lubchenko explores adventure, friendship, family, juvenile fiction, and bioterrorism — 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 adventure, friendship, family.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — The rise of Lubchenko carries an award.

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.