Breaking
Rollins, Danielle (Author)
Breaking
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rollins, Danielle (Author)
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What happens when the secrets hiding in a prep school turn darker than anyone expected? Imagine a place where shadows whisper and the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. Can anyone survive the mysteries that lie beneath the surface?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Breaking is a middle-grade thriller blending supernatural suspense with intense emotional themes like suicide and secrets set in a boarding school. Suitable for ages 9-12, this book contains mature content that may require parental guidance, especially regarding its exploration of dark themes. It's ideal for readers who enjoy suspenseful stories with psychological depth.
Why we rated Breaking 11IE
Breaking is written at a Level 6 reading level across 298 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Breaking works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Breaking as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Dark Themes.
Thematically, Breaking explores secrets, juvenile fiction, boarding schools, and supernatural suspense — 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 secrets, juvenile fiction, boarding schools.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781619637405
- Pages
- 298
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing USA
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction