Champion
Marie Lu
Champion
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Marie Lu
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if the fate of your whole country rested on a secret only you hold? June and Day are caught between peace and war, facing a deadly new plague that could change everything. Can they protect the people they love, or will the cost be too high?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Champion is the final installment in Marie Lu's Legend trilogy, adapted into a graphic novel format suitable for teens aged 13 and up. The story explores themes of political resistance, sacrifice, and a deadly plague threatening a fragile peace, with some mature content around war and government conflict. Parents should note it involves complex relationships and intense moments of peril but is appropriate for young adult readers.
Why we rated Champion 12ME
Champion is written at a Level 8 reading level across 609 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Champion works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Champion as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. 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: Plague, War, Government Conflict.
Thematically, Champion explores man-woman relationships, young adult, plague, resistance to government, and heroes — 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 man-woman relationships, young adult, plague.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" 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
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
The midnight star
Marie Lu
The midnight star
Marie Lu
Legend
Marie Lu
Legend
Marie Lu
Prodigy
Marie Lu
Prodigy
Marie Lu
Prodigy
Marie Lu
Prodigy
Marie Lu
Young Elites
Marie Lu
Young Elites
Marie Lu
Skyhunter
Marie Lu
Skyhunter
Marie Lu
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781629230085
- Pages
- 609
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction