Threatened
Eliot Schrefer
Threatened
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Eliot Schrefer
The text is written at a 6th 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
Luc races through the thick jungle, heart pounding, as the shadows grow longer. The Professor who promised safety has vanished without a trace, leaving Luc alone with the wild chimps and a forest in danger. What will Luc do when the jungle’s secrets start to close in?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Luc, an orphan caught in debt slavery in Gabon, who escapes into the jungle with a Professor studying chimpanzees. When the Professor disappears, Luc must survive on his own and team up with the chimps to protect their threatened forest. The story offers themes of wildlife rescue and adventure suitable for ages 9-12, with mild peril and emotional depth.
Why we rated Threatened 11ME
Threatened is written at a Level 6 reading level across 277 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Threatened works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Threatened as 11ME ("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, Threatened explores wildlife rescue, adventure, orphans, friendship, and family — 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 wildlife rescue, adventure, orphans.
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
11ME — 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
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
- 9780545551434
- Pages
- 277
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction