Parents' Guide to Broken Pride: Bravelands, Book 1

Violence & Scariness

Younger and/or sensitive kids may find the violence, grief, and betrayal too much to take here: Several young characters of different species have seen their parents killed; over the course of the story, several other adults, included beloved ones, are murdered. Then there's just plain nature "red in tooth and claw," as predators hunt and kill prey; in one scene Fearless stalks, kills, and eats a terrified zebra and savors every bloody moment. Vultures, bones, and dead bodies (of animals) are important in the story. Perhaps most scary are the speeches by characters who want to kill others and justify it all in the name of the greater good, as here, where the baboons are discussing what to do with lion cub Fearless, whom one of them rescued:

"'He'll grow huge,' complained another young male. 'Much too risky. I know he's little, but kill him quickly and it won't be unkind.'

"'And think of the future enormous lion while you kill him,' pointed out a sulky-looking senior. 'Then you won't feel so bad. It's not as if we'd be breaking the Code -- we'd be protecting the troop!'"

Language

A few references to dung, especially to describe opinions you don't agree with, and rumps, usually turned on someone in contempt.

Positive Messages

Strong messages of courage, family, friendship, cooperation, and loyalty. Also the importance of teamwork and recognizing everyone's particular skills, finding your own path, and being true to yourself while helping your loved ones.

Positive Role Models

Young protagonists Fearless the lion cub, his friend Thorn the baboon, and Sky the young elephant strive to do the right thing even when they're terrified -- which is often, as they deal with betrayal, treachery, and murder as well as the usual hazards of life in the wild. Fearless is determined to avenge his father's murder and get his pride back but also wise enough to know that he's still a kid. Meanwhile, he shows resourcefulness and courage in helping his family and friends, even when he's misunderstood and badly treated. Thorn sacrifices his own chances to help a friend, once in a contest and once when he breaks up with the girl he loves because he fears putting her in danger. Sky the elephant loves her herdmates, takes care of her little cousin, and obeys her revered grandmother. Some adults of various species are wise and heroic; others are spiteful or treacherous.

Educational Value

Like other Erin Hunter books, Broken Pride is fantasy fiction but also includes a lot of detail about animal habits and the natural world, this time on the African savanna. Sights, sounds, and colorful landscapes all add to the appeal and invite kids to explore further. Heads up: The book assumes that the reader has a pretty good vocabulary and uses words like "intimidating," "malevolent," "escarpment," "foliage," and "silhouetted," along with names of indigenous animals and plants, such as "dik-dik" (a small antelope).