Breaking up
Ailsa Burns
Breaking up
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Separation and Divorce in Australia
by Ailsa Burns
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 if your whole world changed because your parents decided to live apart? Imagine trying to understand new rules, new homes, and new feelings all at once. How do you find your place when everything familiar feels different?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the emotional challenges faced by children of divorced parents, set in Australia. It sensitively addresses themes of family change, desertion, and adjustment, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should be aware that the story delves into complex feelings related to divorce but is handled in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Breaking up 11ME
Breaking up is written at a Level 6 reading level across 206 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Breaking up works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Breaking up 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 — 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, Breaking up explores family, divorce & family change, and coming of age — 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 family, divorce & family change, coming of age.
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
- 0170054039
- Pages
- 206
- Publisher
- Melbourne : Nelson
- Published
- 1980
- Type
- Fiction