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Fallen (by Lauren Kate)

common sense media says

Fallen angels are the new, more charming vampires.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say language is an issue
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book is about as innocent as Twilight, focusing heavily on romance (though fallen angel romance) without much more than kissing and passionate dreams. There is underage drinking and smoking and teachers who turn out to be evil.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Some mixed messages here: There are fallen angels of different types, some demons, and some characters who used to be one or the other and have changed sides...it is hard to tell exactly who the good guys are, or whether all fallen angels are evil, and how much is based on any actual theology. But there are definitely good guys and bad guys, and the good guys are more likable! One main message is to follow your instincts, or your heart.
Positive role models: Luce is not the strongest female role model, but she befriends Penn, who is smart, brave, and loyal, and funny, too...and Daniel has the best intentions, if not completely altruistic motives. Her parents seem to have her best interests at heart, even when they send her to reform school.
Violence: Luce has visitations from dark shadowy beings who threaten her; young men engage in fistfights at a bar; a friend is killed in a fire; her best friend dies in a battle; two girls engage in a viscious fight; supernatural beings engage in epic battles.
Sex: Luce makes out with two different boys and has passionate dreams about Daniel, the love of her life.
Language: Occasional or single use of "hell," "s--t," "ass," and "bitch."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: These high school students drink on campus at parties; many students smoke cigarettes. Luce meets a boy at a bar who is drunk.

More on Fallen

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the epic battle going on in and what theology the story borrows from. Do all religions believe in angels and the fallen angel story? Do all religions have a version of heaven and hell?
  • Luce was in therapy for "seeing" dark shadowy beings who threaten her. Why would doctors give her antipsychotic medications for that?
  • What makes the story of star-crossed lovers so appealing? What are your favorite love stories? Do they always end happily?
  • Disney is reportedly making this book into a movie. Who would you cast in the main roles? What parts of this nearly 500 page book would you cut to make it movie-length? What should be left in?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Seventeen-year-old Luce is sent to reform school after her boyfriend dies in a suspicious fire and she is blamed for his death. Being sent to new schools is nothing new to her after a lifetime of treatment and mediation for seeing "shadows," but the new school is the worst so far. At least until she crushes on a hot guy named Cam, and then falls under the spell of beautiful Daniel Grigori. Could Daniel be the love of her life? A new friend helps her spy on Daniel's past and although Daniel resists her advances at first, soon he is fighting Cam for her. Innocent students start dying, and Daniel admits that their love is not the only thing at stake. An epic battle ends the book and the true nature of many are revealed -- but enough new questions are raised to make readers anxious for the sequel.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Who knew fallen angels could be more charming than vampires? There are so many similarities between FALLEN and Twilight in plot and characterizations, but Fallen has more strong friendships between likable girl characters, and that whole boarding school mystique going on. Luce is almost convinced that she really is mentally ill, although the shadowy beings who menace her seem so real -- and their origins are revealed in good time in a surprise twist.

There are lots of plot twists and turns to keep the action from being too predictable, and enough romance to satisfy legions of teen readers longing for their own teen angels.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Lauren Kate
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: December 1, 2009
Number of pages: 452
Hardcover price: $17.99
Read Aloud: 13
Read Alone: 14

This review was written by Debra Bogart
 
 

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What parents & educators say

14
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say language is an issue
  • 33% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

coco1991626
kid, 12 years old
 
Perfect for teens
I loved it!! One of the best books I've read. It was thrilling and always had you guessing.

Zarah
teen, 15 years old
 
Awesome!
Great book :) *SPOILER ALERT* it is pretty sad when her best friend, Penn, is killed ........ there is some fighting but it's overall a great book! I didn't notice a lot of similarities between Fallen and Twilight though.

TwilightSagaFan98
teen, 15 years old
 
A great book for people who love mysterious love; but needed to reach an age limit of either maturity or 13+
I loved it, it hit the spot of romance that i want in a book and the violence wasn't extreme but on going with one of the characters. it had some harsh language but as long as in my opinion as long as you are 13+ its a good go. Though being mature is also part of being able to read this book. it gets very detailed with the sexual relationships that the young girl has.

lexsmom1979
parent of and 3 , 7 , 10 , 12 year old
 
Too mature for 13-year-olds
Why does this website say this book is okay for kids age 13? And then say that there is cussing and make-out sessions? Also, it doesn't mention that the "finger" is also given. I would never allow a 13 year old of mine to read this book. I myself liked it fairly well, but I just wouldn't reccomend it to anyone under 16.

 
******
I really wish common nonsense would stop relating books to Twilight. Fallen is an exceptionally well crafted novel. I think it sends good messages that while Cam is giving Luce jewelry and trying to sweep her off her feet and buy her things, Luce doesn't fall for him for those reasons. Instead she pursues Daniel, who she feels a strong connection to.

brenda983
teen, 13 years old
 
amazing book:)
looove this book! i like all of the characters and it entertained me and i read it in about 2 days. BUT there was some parts of the book that could have bin left out so it 12 year old who likes romantics then then this isnt you cup of tea. most girls ik my age like twilight so if your into that kinda story line this book is for you. it also depends how mature yew are. Anyways i cant wait to finish reading torment (the sequel)

Beautiful Creature
teen, 15 years old
 
Perfect
Nothing bad in here. I personally loved this book It was Amazing!!!

emma1997
teen, 14 years old
 
I love this book :)
I read this book just yesterday and I was amazed by how good the book was, it captures you from the first chapter. I couldn't put it down (literally) I read the whole book in one day and can't wait till torment is released!

gringa1230
teen, 14 years old
 
what if the person you were meant to be with could never be yours?
i loved it!! but there is a bunch of cussing. it just talks about luce going to a school because of an accedent that happend(sorry i really want to tell you for what but youll have to read it) and so she meets these 2 guys and she swears she had seen 1 before. Its so good! i read the second one and cant wait till the 3rd one comes out! its an amazing love story!

TheVeronicasFan123
teen, 14 years old
 
WONDERFUL! SO MUCH BETTER THAN TWILIGHT!
Ahhh, Fallen. How I loved this book! It was so much better than Twilight. It started out slwo, but it gets very good. there isn't any explicit romance/sex here, and the language is rare and, when it is used, it's very mild. The worst it gets to is s--t. Anyway, I really really liked this book! I recommend on for ages 13 and up. i read it at twelve, but I still loved it! The second one is better, but this one's plot is better! :-)))) Dylan

bajujay24
teen, 17 years old
 
Cramped.
it's really interesting in the beginning mainly because of what happened to Luce and how she ended up in that institute and how she met Daniel. but the ending of the story is quite disappointing. it just throws it all on you suddenly that it's cramped up. it became blurry.

bookworm29
teen, 14 years old
 
SPOILER ALERT!
I liked the book at the beginning, it made a lot of sense. It was a mystery, one that the main character had to solve. Then, in the last fifty pages, everything spinned out of control. She suddenly finds that her crush is an angel, that people on campus are trying to kill her, and that she has been reincarnated for Daniel 20- or so times. Cramming all that action into the last 50 pages was just too much.

xoxoChelseaBeth
parent of 4 , 6 , and 17 year old
 
Perfect for anyone ages 13+

mathgirlie
teen, 14 years old
 
Is there a button for 'boring'?
I read "Fallen" with high hopes - I had read reviews on Amazon and had decided to give it a shot. The book, as I discovered, was neither good nor bad: it was just MEH. The main characters remind me too much of Bella and Edward - girl falls in love with guy who 'supposedly' wants nothing to do with her, follows him around like a shadow until he tells her to stay away. Eventually, the guy gives in and gives her enough information about himself just to give her the impression that he isn't quite 'human', leaving her to figure out the rest. After saving her from having a statue fall on her head (I'm serious)...well, you get the idea. Not much kissing in here, except in the beginning, when Daniel is reminiscing a past reincarnation of Luce, and in the end, when he 'gives in'. Other than that, there's really nothing to be concerned about. A completely forgettable book.

tayrawr74
teen, 14 years old
 
Perfect for 13 yr ollds
im 13 and Fallen and Torment are the best books i have ever read i cant wait for the 3rd book passion to come out

MikaelaReyesXX
teen, 15 years old
 
I really love this book. This is my favorite. And by the way, Lauren Kate signed it!

NikkiHobbs
parent of and 3 , 7 , 10 year old
 
I think 13 years and up would enjoy this book!
I loved this book and can't wait for the second book in this series! I think any 13 year old and up would enjoy it. It was a quick read!

starkbook
teen, 13 years old
 
Perfect for tweens
Its not a bad book.Im 12 years old and found it cool! If you like twilight youll love Fallen.

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