Breaking Away
Jill Eckersley
Breaking Away
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jill Eckersley
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What happens when your best friend turns into your first love, but a big opportunity means moving far away? Becky and Nick believed their bond was unbreakable—until distance starts pulling them apart. Can their connection survive the miles between them?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores the challenges of first love and long-distance relationships as Becky pursues a dream job that takes her away from Nick. Suitable for readers aged 13-18, it addresses themes of growing up, change, and emotional complexity, making it a relatable story for teens navigating relationships and personal growth.
Why we rated Breaking Away 11ME
Breaking Away is written at a Level 6 reading level across 232 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Breaking Away works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Breaking Away as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Breaking Away explores love & romance, coming of age, friendship, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about love & romance, coming of age, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780708995105
- Pages
- 232
- Publisher
- Ulverscroft
- Published
- June 2000
- Type
- Fiction