Breakout

Name: Breakout
Author: Kevin Emerson
ISBN: 9780385391122

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kevin Emerson

Reading Level 6-7 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 13+ Balanced Read

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. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

What happens when your song becomes an overnight sensation but might get you into big trouble? Anthony Castillo’s band, the Rusty Soles, just dropped a raw, powerful track filled with all the feelings of being fourteen. Can he handle the heat when everyone’s eyes turn to him on Arts Night?

Themes

Bands (Music)FamiliesInterpersonal RelationsFriendship Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

Eighth-grader Anthony Castillo writes a raw rock song with profanity for his band, and it goes viral, pulling him into a debate about free speech, school rules, and what is worth standing up for. Expect strong language (the song's lyrics use "f-bombs"), frustration with teachers and parents, and a story about family and friendship that is more emotional than violent. It suits older teen readers who can handle mature language and tension.

Why we rated Breakout LE (Mild)

Breakout is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 297 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

We rate Breakout as LE (Mild, mostly 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Language.

Thematically, Breakout explores bands (music), families, interpersonal relations, friendship, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about bands (music), families, interpersonal relations.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.