Broken
C. J. Lyons
Broken
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by C. J. Lyons
The text is written at a 8th 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
What if one chance could change everything? Scarlet has never experienced the everyday moments of school life because of her rare heart condition. Now, with only three days to prove she can handle high school, every heartbeat counts—but what secrets hide in those crowded halls?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows fifteen-year-old Scarlet, who has a rare and untreatable heart condition, as she attempts to navigate the challenges of high school life in just three days. The story addresses serious themes such as illness, PTSD, and bullying, with content that includes alcohol abuse, ableist language, and graphic scenes involving injury and blood. Recommended for mature middle-grade readers (ages 9-12) who can handle sensitive topics.
Why we rated Broken 12IE
Broken is written at a Level 8 reading level across 525 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Broken works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Broken as 12IE ("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, someone breaks a bone, r-slur used, cancer, PTSD, ableist language or behavior, large age gap, blood/gore.
Thematically, Broken explores friendship, family, schools, illness & injury, and bullying — 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, family, schools.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781402285462
- Pages
- 525
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction