The things Owen wrote
Jessica Scott Kerrin
The things Owen wrote
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jessica Scott Kerrin
The text is written at a 4th 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
Owen is the kid who always aces everything without even trying, but one big mistake suddenly puts his perfect world at risk. When his granddad accidentally sends a secret notebook to Iceland, Owen must race across a land of glaciers and geysers to get it back—because some things are too private to share. Yet the adventure reveals more than just lost pages; it challenges what Owen thought he knew about family and trust.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Owen, a high-achieving boy who embarks on a trip to Iceland with his grandfather after a private notebook is mistakenly sent abroad. The story explores themes of family relationships, trust, and personal mistakes in an age-appropriate way for readers around 9 to 12 years old. Parents should know the book gently addresses fear of disappointing loved ones and early signs of memory issues in an elder, handled with sensitivity.
Why we rated The things Owen wrote 9LE
The things Owen wrote is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The things Owen wrote works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The things Owen wrote as 9LE ("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 things Owen wrote explores family, coming of age, adventure, 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 family, coming of age, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781773060293
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction