City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments, Book 1 Book Poster Image

City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments, Book 1

age 12+
(i)

 

Exciting start to teen fantasy series in urban setting.
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What parents need to know

Educational value

Readers have the chance to compare the angel, nephilim, demon, vampire, fairy, and werewolf lore presented here with other depictions of fantasy creatures. The book also includes an intriguing use of runes, which may entice readers to find out more about their historical significance.

Positive messages

The series as a whole explores what makes a family and whether it's OK to hide a big part of yourself away from loved ones, even if it's in the name of protecting them from harm. It also tests the friendship and bravery of teens. And of course, with characters such as half-angels and demons it's good against evil, but there's also a gray area with an evil half-angel and some good vampires and werewolves.

Positive role models

Clary is brave, both facing scary demons and scary truths about who she really is. She owns her new identity gracefully. Jace and Simon may dislike each other, but are willing to come together to help Clary. A trusted adult advisor turns against the teens in his care.

Violence

Lots of fantasy violence, often with swords and knives, some rather gory, including throat cutting and fountains and puddles of blood. Battles between humans and other creatures such as grotesque-looking demons, a house full of vampires, and werewolves. The main character's mother is kidnapped and she imagines the worst.

Sex

Some kissing, a mention of having sex.

Language

One use of "bitch," "ass," and various other mild insults.

Consumerism

Shoe, eyeglass brands, and video games mentioned.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Herbal Ecstasy mentioned, plus some drinking and smoking by teens in bars. Simon accepts a drink at a party and really pays the price.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that there is lots of fantasy violence with swords and knives here, including some that is gory, with fountains and puddles of blood, throat stabbing and cutting, etc. Also, there's some kissing. This is the start of a series that explores some compelling ideas, such as what makes a family and whether it's OK to hide a big part of yourself away from loved ones, even if it's in the name of protecting them from harm.

What's the story?

Clary goes to an all-ages nightclub, and there encounters Shadowhunters and demons, all of whom are invisible to everyone else. This encounter, and her mother's subsequent kidnapping, brings her into a shadow world of age-old warfare between the Shadowhunters and the demons, from whom they protect humanity. Clary discovers that her mother and her own past are not what she thought, and that she is intimately involved in a power struggle among the Shadowhunters.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Teen urban fantasy is a popular sub-genre, and this first installment of a new series has all the essential elements. A city-dwelling teen discovers an invisible world of magical beings and monsters living hidden among us, and that she has a place and power within that world due to a past that has been kept hidden from her. It's the variations the author wrings out of the formula, and the attitude, that make the difference. Author Cassandra Clare doesn't go for the teen sarcasm and black humor (much), nor the hip urban cool, of some of the other members of this small but growing category.

Instead, she offers an intriguingly complex world with reams of backstory involving numerous characters, creatures, factions, and relationships. In addition to the various sides among the Shadowhunters, there are vampires, werewolves, faeries, warlocks, and others, each group with its own politics, powers, and agendas. Then she wraps it all up with exciting action told in vivid, occasionally melodramatic, but always engrossing, prose that sweeps the reader along and makes even the exposition fascinating.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of the book series. Why do you think teens are interested in reading a story with several installments? What do authors and publishers have to gain by creating a series? 

  • How does this book compare with other fantasy novels you've read? What similarities and differences do you notice in the types of characters, their struggles, their romances, etc.

Book details

Author:Cassandra Clare
Genre:Fantasy
Book type:Fiction
Publisher:Simon & Schuster
Publication date:March 1, 2007
Number of pages:485

This review of City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments, Book 1 was written by

Matt Berman
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

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Teen, 17 years old Written bytrackgirl175 July 18, 2009
age 12+

best since harry potter

i love love love LOVE this book. best ever. the characters suck you into the story and keep you guessing till the very end, and even after that. there is just enough romance to get tweens interested but not so much that they're lying awake thinking about terrible things. the blood is no big deal because THERE ISN'T THAT MUCH. great book, i highly reccommend
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Teen, 13 years old Written bySky Trekker February 6, 2012
age 12+

Really really good!

I thought this book and series are amazing. It is funny, interesting, and gripping. And really, why is it a big deal that there's minor swearing and gay characters? There's nothing wrong with that, is there? No. The adults who say that it is 17 and up must be way too protective as parents. I scoff at you.
What other families should know
Great role models
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Teen, 15 years old Written byClearastheSea April 13, 2011
age 16+

Definitely iffy for teens and definitely NOT for tweens.

This series, as a whole, is too sexual to be appropriate for kids 12+. There are multiple scenes implying sex, especially later in the series. A girl is described as having her shirt unbuttoned displaying her bra while kissing a boy.
What other families should know
Too much sex
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