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The Dangerous Book for Boys

(2007, Non-Fiction - Activity, Written by Conn & Hal Iggulden)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Brilliant marketing masks some weak content.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Some would consider the whole premise of the book to be sexist. Boys are encouraged to gamble for money, and to run away if they accidentally break a window.

  • Violence:

    A chapter on how to kill and skin a rabbit, another on how to make a bow and arrow. In the stories, there are fights and wars, beatings, amputation, deaths by a variety of methods, including being impaled on a red-hot poker which, the author states, was a statement on the victim's homosexuality.

  • Sex:

    A reference to homosexuality, a statement that boys spend a lot of time dreaming about girls.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Candy and sports brands mentioned.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    References to alcohol and hashish.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Dangerous Book for Boys

Parents need to know that there is much here that you may find objectionable, beginning with the premise of the book. Boys are encouraged to hunt and gamble, and some of the stories are very violent, though not graphically so. Most of the activities require lots of adult supervision.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about which of the activities they would like to do, and what parental supervision is necessary. Also, why were the particular activities, stories, and poems chosen? What are the authors saying about boyhood? Are they right?
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