Broken Pride
Erin Hunter
Broken Pride
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Broken Pride
by Erin Hunter
The text is written at a 7th 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 lion's claws scrape the dusty ground as he stares down the enemy closing in fast. Nearby, the elephant's eyes scan the cracked bones, searching for secrets hidden in the dust. Suddenly, the baboon leaps into the fray, defying everything he's been told—but will their courage be enough to stop the chaos?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in the African plains, this middle-grade novel follows three animal protagonists—a lion, an elephant, and a baboon—who confront a betrayal that threatens the fragile peace between predators and prey. The story explores themes of loyalty, courage, and breaking free from tradition, suitable for readers aged 9-12. It contains mild peril and fantasy elements but is appropriate for its target audience.
Why we rated Broken Pride 12LE
Broken Pride is written at a Level 7 reading level across 319 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Broken Pride works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Broken Pride as 12LE ("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, Broken Pride explores adventure, friendship, animal fiction, and coming of age — 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 adventure, friendship, animal fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781338244823
- Pages
- 319
- Publisher
- scholastic
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction