The place between breaths
An Na
The place between breaths
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by An Na
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Grace is a determined sixteen-year-old caught between hope and fear as she searches for a cure to the illness that took her mother away. Working alongside top scientists in a genetics lab, she uncovers a breakthrough that might change everything — but as her own mind begins to falter, she must confront the possibility that the disease could be affecting her too. This gripping tale explores the challenges of mental illness and the strength it takes to face the unknown.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include mental health, schizophrenia, emotional: fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated The place between breaths 9IE
The place between breaths is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 181 pages (approximately 38,534 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The place between breaths works for readers up to grade 6.8.
Read aloud, The place between breaths runs about 4.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The place between breaths as 9IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mental Health, Schizophrenia, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery, Emotional: Loss & Grief.
Thematically, The place between breaths explores family, genetics, mental illness, coming of age, and science & nature — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, genetics, mental illness.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781481422253
- Pages
- 181
- Publisher
- Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 38,534
- Read-Aloud
- ~4h 17m
- Text Density
- Standard