What reading level is Break me like a promise?

Break me like a promise by Tiffany Schmidt is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 730L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Break me like a promise appropriate for?

Break me like a promise is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Break me like a promise?

Break me like a promise is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Break me like a promise have any content warnings?

Break me like a promise 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 Break me like a promise?

Break me like a promise by Tiffany Schmidt is 404 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Break me like a promise

Tiffany Schmidt

Break me like a promise

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Once Upon a Crime Family

by Tiffany Schmidt

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.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Did you know there's a hidden world where secrets can save or break a family? Maggie's family runs a risky business that most people don't even know exists, and when new rules come along, everything starts to change. But meeting Alex, who knows something Maggie never expected, is only the beginning.

Themes

FamiliesOrganized CrimeSickFriendshipEthical Dilemmas

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction explores complex themes such as organized crime and black-market organ trade through the eyes of a young protagonist. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it touches on family loyalty, ethical dilemmas, and budding friendship with some mature topics handled sensitively. Parents should be aware of the story's focus on illegal activities and medical themes.

Why we rated Break me like a promise 9ME

Break me like a promise is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 730L across 404 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Break me like a promise works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Break me like a promise 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, social complexity, 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, Break me like a promise explores families, organized crime, sick, friendship, and ethical dilemmas — 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 families, organized crime, sick.

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.