Breathe
Abbi Glines
Breathe
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Abbi Glines
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The salty breeze mixes with the crash of waves as Sadie steps onto the sandy island, her heart pounding with new responsibilities. The scent of summer and secrets fills the air, while the sound of distant guitar strings hints at a world far different from her own. Amidst the heat and music, Sadie and Jax's worlds collide in a story about friendship, dreams, and the courage to follow your heart.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in coastal Alabama, this middle-grade fiction explores the life of Sadie, a young girl who takes on her mother's household job during a challenging summer. The story touches on themes of family responsibility, social differences, and young romance, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of dating themes and mild romantic tension typical of this age group.
Why we rated Breathe 11LE
Breathe is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Breathe works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Breathe as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Breathe explores friendship, coming of age, family, romance, and music — 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 friendship, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — 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
- 9781471117435
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction