This Startling Lack of Color
Christopher Smith
This Startling Lack of Color
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Christopher Smith
The text is written at a 5th 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: the whole world has lost its color, turning everything into shades of black, white, and gray. A twelve-year-old girl is the only one who can bring color back—but that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of loss, grief, and healing through the story of a twelve-year-old girl coping with her brother's sudden death. Set in a world drained of color, she discovers a unique gift that allows her to restore it, while also caring for an unusual, backwards-aging visitor. The book is appropriate for ages 9-12 and handles emotional topics with sensitivity.
Why we rated This Startling Lack of Color 10ME
This Startling Lack of Color is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This Startling Lack of Color works for readers up to grade 7.0.
We rate This Startling Lack of Color as 10ME ("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 — 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, This Startling Lack of Color explores family, coming of age, fantasy world-building, and grief — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, fantasy world-building.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
- ISBN
- 9781952730047
- Publisher
- Quarter Press
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction