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Larry and the Meaning of Life

(2008, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Third installment of series with wild plot twists and turns.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 14 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    A teen is beaten up, land mines are planted with intent on killing people, a stalker that tried to kill a teen re-emerges.
  • Sex:

    Talk of a teen hooking up with an adult and there are photos to support it, though it wasn't described in great detail. A teen talks about wanting to kiss several girls.
  • Language:

    A few of the milder words.

  • Consumerism:

    Larry (Josh) is against consumerism.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Talk of an adult being an alcoholic.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Larry and the Meaning of Life

Parents need to know that the main character gets depressed and seeks guidance from a questionable guru who may be running a cult. Violence includes a teen getting beaten up, land mines planted, and the threat of a possibly murderous stalker. There's talk of a teen hooking up with an adult and a few pictures to prove it.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Josh's loss of direction in his life. Have you ever felt like you didn't know what to do next, or what you wanted to do with your life? Josh goes through some pretty extreme experiences to get himself back on track. How do you refocus on your goals? Families can also talk about how to set goals and how to deal with depression. Do you have someone you can talk to if you feel down? Do you know the difference between depression and just having the blues?

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