 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Delirium
- By Lauren Oliver
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Mix of forbidden romance, drama, and danger; OK for teens.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that a forbidden romance dominates this dystopian fantasy. The love connection at its core is idealized and stays pretty innocent: Lena and Alex kiss and he takes off her shirt. The amount of violence is pretty typical for the genre. The main character remembers the suicide of her mother more than a
decade earlier to avoid the "procedure" -- essentially brain
surgery every U.S. citizen endures to remove their
ability to be infected by Amor Deliria Nervosa, or love. The threat of death hovers over Lena and Alex if the couple is found out, plus batons are used on victims and there's some shooting. Despite only a faint backstory of how this future United States got this
way, the book still sets up a good debate about why a society would
make everyone "safe" from strong emotion.
What's the story?
The future United States is a place of extreme order and apathy, thanks to a government-required procedure that all citizens must submit to at 18 to protect them from Amore Deleria Nervosa -- the disease of love. Lena can't wait for her procedure, scheduled in a few months. Then she'll be free from memories of her beloved mother who killed herself 12 years ago after a botched procedure to "cure" her. Then, Lena meets Alex and it's not long before she's seriously and wonderfully "infected." He's from beyond the electrified fence and fakes the mark of the cured so he can attend school and stage small anonymous acts of resistance. As Alex opens Lena's eyes to what the cure really represents, Lena struggles with what to do. All the while her procedure date draws nearer.
Is it any good?
Teen readers will be drawn into this book's exciting premise and its mix of romance, high drama and danger -- if citizens get "infected" by love, government regulators drag them, kicking and screaming to poke at their brains until they don't care about anyone anymore. Yikes. If readers stay focused on Lena and Alex's star-crossed romance, they are in for a great ride. Those who try to follow the whys and hows of the making of this society will find the unanswered questions keep on coming. They will wish the author had taken more time to flush-out her dystopian backdrop.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the resurgence in popularity of dystopian novels. Like Twilight launched many more vampire novels, the popularity of The Hunger Games, for example, gave this genre new life. Why do teens connect with these books? What do you think the next book fad will be?
It's hard to find a fault in Alex, Lena's love interest. Why do you think the main male character in romantic novels is often drawn this way? Do characters like Alex shape teen's expectations about romance in any way?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Great Book, Awesome Message
Delirium by Lauren Oliver is a really great book. It's about a girl named Lena who falls in love shortly before she's supposed to get a "cure" for it, mandated for those over 18. The message about the importance of love is very powerful and Lena's persistence with her beliefs is honorable. This novel is one of my favorites!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great Message!
Great book! It had a really good theme and message. I think that kids 14 and older can comprehend adequately that we need to have passion in life, and it is a great lesson to be learned.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
AWESOME!
Im only 12 and I read this when I was 11 I fully understood the book! It was such an amazing story and I can't wait for the sequel. The authors Before I Fall is also a must read. This book reminds me of a futuristic twist of Romeo and Juliet
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
GREAT BOOK WITH A GREAT MESSAGE!
This is such an amazing book with such an amazing message! I love pretty much every main character in this book, mostly Alex, then Hana, then Lena. Alex and Lena kiss A LOT and, yes, he does take her shirt off, but nothing goes farther than that. I think the message is so deep and this book has so much thought put into it. When you lose love, you don't just lose that, you lose compassion, happiness, even hate, because all these are levels of love (or a lack thereof.) Really makes you think and has a wonderful lesson to learn! This review mentions how Alex is portrayed as a "flawless" character. I think it means that since Lena loves him, he's perfect in her eyes, and she loves him for the faults he has when others would look down on him. And that's what true love is.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Great Book for older teens
My 6th grade 11 1/2 year old daughter read this and loved it. I then read it and loved it - but there was some inappropriate language (though used appropriately and not gratuitously) and certainly more sexual activity than I felt comfortable with for my pre-teen. In hindsight, I would preferred that she waited a year or two before reading this book. This is a beautiful love story and I can't wait for the sequel. Certainly appropriate for teens.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
AWESOME!
This book was seriously awesome!!! I loved it! I'm 12 and I found it amazing! Kissing is not that bad for my age and older. AMAZING BOOK!
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Lauren Oliver |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Publication date: | February 1, 2011 |
| Number of pages: | 441 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 14 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
