What reading level is The runaway's gold?

The runaway's gold by Emilie Christie Burack is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 850L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The runaway's gold appropriate for?

The runaway's gold is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The runaway's gold?

The runaway's gold is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The runaway's gold have any content warnings?

The runaway's gold has a HootRating of 10LE (Light — 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 runaway's gold?

The runaway's gold by Emilie Christie Burack is 305 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The runaway's gold

Emilie Christie Burack

The runaway's gold

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

a novel

by Emilie Christie Burack

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Christian Robertson is accused of stealing gold, but he didn’t do it. Framed by his own brother, he must leave everything he knows and travel from the windswept Shetland Islands to bustling New York City to prove his innocence. What will he discover on this daring journey — and can he clear his name before it’s too late?

Themes

HistoryAdventure FamilyImmigrationFriendship

Quick Assessment

Set in the 1840s, this historical novel follows Christian Robertson, a young Scottish crofter falsely accused of theft. As he journeys from the Shetland Islands to New York City to reclaim his honor, readers explore themes of family, immigration, and resilience. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the story contains realistic social challenges but no intense content.

Why we rated The runaway's gold 10LE

The runaway's gold is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 850L across 305 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The runaway's gold works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The runaway's gold as 10LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, The runaway's gold explores history, adventure, family, immigration, and friendship — 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 history, adventure, family.