The brokenhearted
Amelia Kahaney
The brokenhearted
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amelia Kahaney
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
The sharp beep of machines fills the underground lab where Anthem wakes, her chest pounding with a new, bionic heartbeat. The cold metal against her skin feels strange, but her mind races faster than ever before. With new powers and a fierce need to find Gavin, she steps into a dark city full of secrets and danger, where nothing is as it seems.
Themes
Quick Assessment
The Brokenhearted is a middle-grade novel blending elements of adventure, mystery, and science fiction. It follows Anthem Fleet, a talented ballerina who gains superhuman abilities after a mysterious accident, as she navigates a dangerous city to uncover the truth and seek revenge. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains some intense themes of loss and peril but is balanced with action and fantasy elements.
Why we rated The brokenhearted 12ME
The brokenhearted is written at a Level 7 reading level across 341 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The brokenhearted works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The brokenhearted 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 — 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 brokenhearted explores adventure, ballet, secrets, action & adventure, and superhero — 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 adventure, ballet, 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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062230928
- Pages
- 341
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction