Cracked
K. M. Walton
Cracked
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by K. M. Walton
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Bull Mastrick and Victor Konig have been enemies since kindergarten, but now they're locked up together in a psychiatric ward. Their fierce rivalry hides deep pain and family troubles that no one expected. What happens when two bullies discover they have more in common than they thought?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores complex emotional struggles and family dysfunction through the intertwined stories of two boys placed in a psychiatric ward. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it sensitively addresses themes of bullying, mental health, and troubled family dynamics. Parents should note the book's focus on emotional challenges and its candid depiction of adolescent difficulties.
Why we rated Cracked 12IE
Cracked is written at a Level 7 reading level across 312 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cracked works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Cracked as 12IE ("Intense — 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Cracked explores emotional problems, family, bullying, mental health, and dysfunctional families — 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 emotional problems, family, bullying.
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
12IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781442429178
- Pages
- 312
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction