Breathe
Sarah Crossan
Breathe
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Crossan
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
The sharp hiss of oxygen tanks fills the stale, heavy air inside the Pod, where every breath is a prize. Outside, a world without trees suffocates, and only a lucky few live in the precious bubble of clean air. When danger forces Alina to flee with just two days of oxygen, the race to find a hidden forest becomes a desperate fight for survival and hope.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a dystopian future where oxygen is scarce and society is sharply divided by class, this young adult novel follows sixteen-year-old Alina as she joins a secret resistance against a cruel regime. The story contains themes of survival, environmental collapse, and social injustice along with a romantic subplot. Suitable for teens 13 and up, it includes tense moments of peril and explores complex themes that may prompt thoughtful discussions.
Why we rated Breathe 12IP
Breathe is written at a Level 7 reading level across 386 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Breathe works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Breathe as 12IP ("Intense — Physical") 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, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Peril, Environmental Crisis, Social Inequality, Romantic Tension.
Thematically, Breathe explores adventure, science & nature, dystopian, family, and romance — 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 adventure, science & nature, dystopian.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — 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
12IP — Intense — PhysicalHeavy 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
2/10A 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
- 9781408827192
- Pages
- 386
- Publisher
- A&C Black
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction