Oath breaker
Michelle Paver
Oath breaker
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Michelle Paver
Illustrated by Taylor, Geoff, 1946- illustrator
The text is written at a 6th 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
The sharp crack of a branch snaps in the silent Deep Forest, where shadows twist like living things. Torak’s heart pounds as he tracks the enemy who betrayed his friend, the bitter scent of smoke and fear thick in the air. Every step pulls him deeper into a world where ancient spirits watch, and the price of revenge may be more than he can bear.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Oath Breaker is a middle-grade fantasy novel suitable for ages 9-12, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of revenge. Set in a prehistoric world, it contains elements of suspense and battle but handles mature themes like grief and moral choices with sensitivity. Parents should be aware of depictions of violence related to clan conflicts and the emotional struggles faced by the protagonist.
Why we rated Oath breaker 11ME
Oath breaker is written at a Level 6 reading level across 289 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Oath breaker works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Oath breaker as 11ME ("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, 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, Oath breaker explores friendship, loyalty, revenge, good and evil, and prehistoric peoples — 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, loyalty, revenge.
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
11ME — Moderate — 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
- 9780060728397
- Pages
- 289
- Publisher
- Harper Collins
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction