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All parent reviews for City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments, Book 1
Average rating based on 14 parent reviews:
- 36% say violence is an issue
- 36% say sexual content is an issue
- 29% say language is an issue
- 29% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
AGE
Unpleasantly surprised
I was unpleasantly surprised at the inaccurate review given for this book. It doesn't mention language or sex and there was enough in the first chapter to cause me, an adult, to stop reading it. The first scene in the nightclub had sexual innuendo and harsh swearing. I am new to this website and it leaves me doubting the accuracy of the reviews. I am a positive person, but this left me jaded.
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AGE
best since harry potter
i love love love LOVE this book. best ever. the characters suck you into the story and keep you guessing till the very end, and even after that. there is just enough romance to get tweens interested but not so much that they're lying awake thinking about terrible things. the blood is no big deal because THERE ISN'T THAT MUCH. great book, i highly reccommend
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AGE
Has it's moments but not good for young teens
This book about the hidden world where good and evil are at war is action filled and has it's moments. That said it contained LOTS of sexual innuendo, homosexual romance (more in the next books with an adult male with a teen male), some graphic violence, and the adults in the books are generally not good or iffy at best. The teens in the book are on their own to solve their problems and break rules or deceive the adults in charge to do it. The underground world is full of drinking, sex and violence for both the "good" and "evil" characters. Very little separates one group from the other in some aspects.
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AGE
A Twilight-esque fantasy that will appeal to boys.
It's hard for me not to review this novel independantly of the second and third book in the trilogy - which reader's of the first novel will be compelled to read.
They are fun books with lots of references to demonology and angels - most of which are based in Judeo-Christian mythology. The books, in my opinion, neither support nor directly contradict a reader's faith (or lack of faith) - and reader's will likely put these books down entertained and with their world-view unimpacted.
There are no explicit sexual encounters, but there are numerous scenes with lots of sexual tension and kissing. Many of these scenes are between two characters that believe they are biological siblings.
Two supporting characters have a homosexual relationship.
Teen characters drink at parties.
There are almost constant and graphic descriptions of demon-killing.
The adults in this novel are almost all negligent, untrustworthy, or evil.
I read these on the recommendation of a ninth-grade student. I think they will appeal to teens and will likely interest boys much more than the Twilight phenomenon has. However, due to the content and the teens behaving solidly as teens, I'd put the age limit a bit higher than the main review and reserve them for high schoolers.
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AGE
Great for adults, use discretion for tweens, inappropriate for children
There was a lot of minor curse words and one gd word in this book. The book would have been just as good if not better if it had left out the language. The plot was awesome, the action kept you on the edge of your seat. Could not put it down. As a parent, I edited out the curse words so my 14 yr old could read it.
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AGE
Wonderful Read!
This book was absolutely amazing! A beautiful plot, intriguing characters, and great action. There is swearing fairly often, including sh-t, p-ss, d-mn, h-ll, -ss, and the Lord's name in vain. One guy is mentioned as being gay, and another man winks at him and says 'call me'. Maybe an innuendo or two. It was truly a wonderful book that I recommend to anyone thirteen and older.
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AGE
There's no reason to hate it...
I will admit, within the first three chapters, I knew that Jace was her brother. It was just one of those books that it would happen. Poor kid, hahaha! (Sorry for the spoiler there, but it had to be said) I wouldn't want someone younger than 14 reading this, especially with the reference to homosexuality and the general sense of amorality and us vs them mentality in the book. However, once I read on I came to recognize the common themes that lace these types of books, where the individual strength of the person was the ultimate strength. As well as the darkened theme of good versus evil. I would by no means hand this book to a child and say to them "learn from it" but I would let them read it and say "here's something entertaining." It's not a waste of time, just something that will consume it more pleasurably than others.
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AGE
I am reading it now and I am quite surprised that the main page says there was only a mention of herbal exctasy. In the first 5 pages there was a cocaine mention (packet of white powder), herbal exctacy(ha I cant even spell it!), not to mention the mention of a hardcore makeout session.. It stinks cause gramma got it and my 12.5 y/o is done with 1&2. Oh and the smoking of Clove cigs, which just became legal again where I live.
However she knows my stance on drugs and she has one of her own. The thing is those things went right over her head. She didnt know what they meant. I wonder how much of the book she even gets. Seems like a complicated storyline if you dont even get those references.
We'll use it as a way to talk about things. I read Christopher Pike as a 12 y/o and recently reread one. There were refernces to coke there even then. It's funny I didn't get it as a kid. But, It also didnt cause me to became a drug addict, sexual deviant or anything else I am worried about happening to my kid.
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AGE
Caution, not for young teens.
I bought this book on the advice of a friend's 12 year old daughter for my 13 year old son. He was reading another book so I read it. I was a little shocked to be truthful. The kids go to all age clubs and are out at midnight or after on Sunday night. There is reference to drinking, drugging and smoking at the club although the types of drinks and drugs are not of our world. There is mention of Herbal Estacy use. One kid drinks a cocktail he shouldn't have and turns into a mouse. The cocktails are very attractively described in the book. There is clove cigarette smoking but not by the main characters. There is tons of bloody violence with lots of graphic detail. In the book they are killing demons and other creatures not of our world but there is still blood and gore and vivid descriptions of the violent killings. I think it's definitely a book for older teens and not appropriate for 13 and under. I have enjoyed reading the book and am now reading the next one (City of Ashes) but I am not going to offer them to my son just yet.
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AGE
Good read for Older Teens not 12 year olds.
While it is a great book for adults and older teens there is a lot of sexual tension, many would consider inappropriate sexual tension, cursing, drugs, drinking, and rough High School behavior. I do not want to give away the story but I strongly caution parents to preview the book first. The adult role models are lacking at best. The Common Sense review is way off the mark here. I would not let my 12 year old read this.
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AGE
Just Say NO
I teach English to 7th, 8th, and 9th grades, and I won't have this book in my classroom. I read only the first chapter or two and had to put it down. I read LOTS of young adult fiction, especially fantasy, but this was too much for me.
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AGE
this book was really good if you like the whole wearwolfs and vampire thing!!!!
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