A Break with Charity
Ann Rinaldi
A Break with Charity
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Story about the Salem Witch Trials
by Ann Rinaldi
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
What would you do if people around you started accusing neighbors of witchcraft? Imagine a quiet village filled with fear and suspicion, where friends and families are torn apart by frightening rumors. Could Susanna find the courage to stand up for the truth before it's too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during the Salem witch trials of 1692, this historical fiction novel follows Susanna English as she navigates fear, accusations, and community turmoil. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of justice, courage, and the consequences of mass hysteria. Parents should be aware of the book’s depiction of historical persecution and the emotional tension related to wrongful accusations.
Why we rated A Break with Charity 11ME
A Break with Charity is written at a Level 6 reading level across 257 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A Break with Charity works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate A Break with Charity 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, thematic difficulty — 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, A Break with Charity explores historical, trials, witchcraft, courage, and community — 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 historical, trials, witchcraft.
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
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
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780152003531
- Pages
- 257
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 1992
- Type
- Fiction