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Lips Touch Three Times

(2009, Fiction - Fairy Tale, Written by Laini Taylor)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Wildly inventive, wonderful fairy tales for mature teens.

Themes in this book include:   dating/crushes, family relationships, growing up

Why We Rated This on for Ages 15 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    Unlike more traditional fairytales with messages of abandonment or loss, these tales are suffused more with an air of wonder, and risk. The young women, and in the third story Hatchling that includes both the mother and the daughter at various times, are supported and inspired by the upbringing they have had. The women in their lives have passed on stories of what might happen; but these girls are independent and wise enough to know they must make their own choices.

  • Role models:

    Features strong, wise, and brave females, although they do not all choose to give up love for safety.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some fairy tale type violence; goblins who steal souls, a demon who trades adult lives for those of babies. In one story, a girl is cursed -- if she speaks she will kill all those who hear; in another a race of demons have the ability to borrow human bodies and enjoy having sex from within them. In that world, children are kept as pets, cats are fed to monsters as bridge tolls, and two human pets are forced to have sex while "overtaken" and conceive a child. These sex acts are not described in any detail and are viewed as depraved by the humans.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Infrequent or single  use of "hell," "damn," "bastard," "ass," and "bitch."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The only story set in modern times has a teenage girl who smokes cigarettes and drinks wine at a picnic.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Lips Touch Three Times

Parents need to know that, like all fairy tales, these three tales have a dark side. The third and longest story is the darkest and most adult, with a land of demons who can take over human bodies and make them have (barley described) sex. The first two stories involve older teens coming of age and having first romances. There are goblins, curses, demons, and danger throughout but it's not to the point of feeling like a horror novel. Also of note: One of the stories has characters who visit Hell, and a demon who can visit above. The author's Afterward discusses her views of Hell and some of the world religion stories she was inspired by.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the universality of fairy tales and folk tales. Are their lessons relevant today?
  • One of the stories has characters who visit Hell, and a demon who can visit above. The author has a note afterward that discusses her views of Hell and some of the world religion stories she was inspired by. How do they inform her stories?
  • There is some danger that comes with these three kisses. Do the three heroines make the right choices?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Linsey
    I rate this title off for age 15 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    i hate it....

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    tanishka
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    love it

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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