What reading level is Broken?

Broken by CJ Lyons is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 750L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Broken appropriate for?

Broken is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: alcohol abuse, bone break, r-slur usage, cancer, PTSD, ableist language, large age gap, blood/gore.

What genre is Broken?

Broken is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Broken have any content warnings?

Broken has a HootRating of 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: alcohol abuse, bone break, r-slur usage, cancer, PTSD, ableist language, large age gap, blood/gore. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Broken?

Broken by CJ Lyons is 323 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Broken

CJ Lyons

Broken

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by CJ Lyons

Reading Level 4-5 9IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to face your biggest fears all at once? Scarlet Killian has a heart that could stop any minute, yet she's about to take on the wild halls of high school for three whole days. But this school hides secrets darker than anyone could imagine—will Scarlet’s courage be enough to survive?

Themes

FamilySchool storiesSickDysfunctional familiesJuvenile fictionFamily problems

Quick Assessment

Broken by CJ Lyons is a middle-grade thriller about a fifteen-year-old girl with a serious heart condition who must prove she can handle high school life. The story explores themes of illness, family struggles, and trauma, with mature content including references to alcohol abuse, cancer, PTSD, ableist language, and graphic scenes involving injury and blood. Suitable for ages 9-12, parents should be aware of the intense emotional and physical challenges depicted in the narrative.

Why we rated Broken 9IE

Broken is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 750L across 323 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Broken works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Broken as 9IE ("Intense — Emotional") 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: alcohol abuse, bone break, r-slur usage, cancer, PTSD, ableist language, large age gap, blood/gore.

Thematically, Broken explores family, school stories, sick, dysfunctional families, and juvenile fiction — 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 family, school stories, sick.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.