What reading level is The robot ransom?

The robot ransom by Gertrude Chandler Warner is at a Level 3-4 reading level. Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is The robot ransom appropriate for?

The robot ransom is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8C (Clear).

What genre is The robot ransom?

The robot ransom is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Boxcar Children series.

Does The robot ransom have any content warnings?

The robot ransom has a HootRating of 8C (Clear). 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 robot ransom?

The robot ransom by Gertrude Chandler Warner is 107 pages (approximately 16,315 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The robot ransom

Gertrude Chandler Warner

The robot ransom

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Illustrated by VanArsdale, Anthony, illustrator

Boxcar Children

Reading Level 3-4 8C Ages 5-8 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Henry and Jessie are excited to take their robotics team to the big regional contest, but trouble strikes when someone tries to stop them from competing. With teamwork, clever thinking, and a little detective work, the siblings race to uncover the mystery and keep their dreams alive. Adventure and fun await as they combine their love of robots with sharp problem-solving skills!

Themes

Sibling RelationshipsFriendship AdventureRoboticsProblem Solving

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 3-4 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated The robot ransom 8C

The robot ransom is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 107 pages (approximately 16,315 words). Strong independent readers around grade 4.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The robot ransom works for readers up to grade 5.8.

Read aloud, The robot ransom runs about 1.8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The robot ransom as 8C ("Clear") 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 robot ransom explores sibling relationships, friendship, adventure, robotics, and problem solving — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about sibling relationships, friendship, adventure.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 150 more books in the Boxcar Children series.