What reading level is The art of not breathing?

The art of not breathing by Sarah Alexander is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 680L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is The art of not breathing appropriate for?

The art of not breathing is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8IE (Intense — Emotional).

What genre is The art of not breathing?

The art of not breathing is fiction — JUVENILE FICTION.

Does The art of not breathing have any content warnings?

The art of not breathing has a HootRating of 8IE (Intense — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The art of not breathing?

The art of not breathing by Sarah Alexander is 275 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The art of not breathing

Sarah Alexander

The art of not breathing

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sarah Alexander

Reading Level 3-4 8IE Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Elsie Main is not your ordinary girl—she dares to dive into the deep, dark sea where secrets hide. After her twin brother Eddie drowned, she’s determined to uncover the truth beneath the waves. But what she finds might change everything she thought she knew.

Themes

GriefFamilySecretsAdventure Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This novel follows sixteen-year-old Elsie as she copes with the grief of losing her twin brother and seeks answers about his drowning through the challenging sport of freediving. Suitable for early teens, it explores themes of loss, family struggles, and self-discovery with sensitivity. Parents should note the emotional depth and some mature themes related to grief and family dynamics.

Why we rated The art of not breathing 8IE

The art of not breathing is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 680L across 275 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The art of not breathing works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate The art of not breathing as 8IE ("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, The art of not breathing explores grief, family, secrets, adventure, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about grief, family, secrets.

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.