Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Dark breaks the dawn
Sara B. Larson
Dark breaks the dawn
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sara B. Larson
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Eighteen-year-old Princess Evelayn discovers powerful magic within herself as her kingdom faces a fierce battle between forces of light and darkness. With the fate of Éadrolan hanging in the balance, she must embrace her shapeshifting abilities to protect her people and restore peace. Adventure and magic intertwine in a tale of courage and discovery.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 6-7 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include fantasy violence, mild peril. Written for readers ages 11+.
Why we rated Dark breaks the dawn 11LP
Dark breaks the dawn is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 950L across 307 pages (approximately 78,608 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dark breaks the dawn works for readers up to grade 8.7.
Read aloud, Dark breaks the dawn runs about 8.7 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Dark breaks the dawn as 11LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fantasy Violence, Mild Peril.
Thematically, Dark breaks the dawn explores magic, shapeshifting, princesses, nobility, and fantasy world-building — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 11+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about magic, shapeshifting, princesses.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Dark Breaks the Dawn series.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Dark Breaks the Dawn Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781338068696
- Pages
- 307
- Publisher
- Scholastic, Incorporated
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 78,608
- Lexile
- 950L
- Read-Aloud
- ~8h 44m
- Text Density
- Dense