What reading level is The sabotage?

The sabotage by Jeff Probst is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The sabotage appropriate for?

The sabotage is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The sabotage?

The sabotage is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The sabotage have any content warnings?

The sabotage has a HootRating of 9ME (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 sabotage?

The sabotage by Jeff Probst is 189 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The sabotage

Jeff Probst

The sabotage

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jeff Probst

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

Carter’s heart pounds as the jungle around him buzzes with danger. Vanessa calls out, but there’s no answer—someone is missing in the wild shadows of the island. With every step, the tension rises: who’s gone, and will they make it back?

Themes

Survival FamilyStepfamiliesBlended FamiliesAdventure

Quick Assessment

The Sabotage is the second book in the Stranded: Shadow Island trilogy, continuing the adventurous survival story of a group of kids trapped on a remote island. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of family, courage, and resilience in life-threatening situations, with some suspenseful moments and mild peril. Parents should note that the story involves survival challenges and a missing character, which may evoke tension but is handled appropriately for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated The sabotage 9ME

The sabotage is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 189 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The sabotage works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The sabotage as 9ME ("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.

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

Thematically, The sabotage explores survival, family, stepfamilies, blended families, and adventure — 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 survival, family, stepfamilies.

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.