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The Braid

(2006, Fiction - Historical Fiction, Written by Helen Frost)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Immigrant story with a fascinating knotted twist.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Main characters -- two teen girls -- show perseverance in difficult circumstances.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some characters die of cholera.

  • Sex:

    Kissing; an unwed teen gets pregnant.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Braid

Parents need to know that an unwed teen gets pregnant, has the baby, and eventually marries the father. Some members of the main characters' family die of cholera.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the immigrant experience. What was there in Jeannie's character that enabled her family to succeed? What would you have done in their circumstances?
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