Iron Widow
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow is a fantasy/sci-fi blend set in a post-apocalyptic China, the first in a planned duology. There are depictions of torture, murder, and abuse with pain and suffering described. Other real-world violence includes fights with choking, breaking bones, blood, descriptions of pain, and suicide ideation. Fantasy violence includes large-scale battles between fantasy creatures and people piloting giant gundam- or kaiju-like robots. Anger against oppression, repression, and suppression of women is the central theme, and the story shows many examples. Addiction to alcohol is a prominent theme; causing addiction to it via torture and killing with alcohol "waterboarding" are described. There's a love triangle between a woman and two men, with positive depictions of same-sex and opposite-sex attraction and having strong feelings for more than one person at a time. Other sexy stuff includes descriptions of kissing, including one that draws blood, and having sex is implied but not directly narrated. Strong language includes "f--k" and "s--t."
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What's the Story?
IRON WIDOW is the story of Wu Zetian, an 18-year-old girl in a world where women's lives can take only one of two paths. They can either be married off to a man not of her own choosing, or they can volunteer as concubine co-pilots of the giant Chrysalis robots that defend humanity against the faceless Hundun creatures. Either path leads to a life of subservience, where the only chance of success depends on being as pleasing as possible to men. And one path leads to an early grave. Zetian's older sister became a concubine co-pilot and was murdered by her counterpart before her first battle in a Chrysalis. Zetian will do whatever it takes to avenge her sister, even at the cost of her own life. Not even she could have imagined how things would play out, but since she's still standing, she determines to finally break free of everything and everyone that's held her back all her life.
Is It Any Good?
Author Xiran Jay Zhao's sci-fi/fantasy debut doesn't pull any punches and packs a real wallop. Emotional intensity drives Iron Widow forward as much the thrilling action does, and both are balanced nicely by moments of genuine warmth and humor. It's a unique imagining of a far-future world that draws heavily on Chinese history, culture, and the power of qi.
Make no mistake, antihero/protagonist Zetian wants to burn the patriarchy to the ground, and will destroy anything and anyone who gets in her way. But readers can understand, empathize with, and even root for her as her past, and the shocking realities of her present, are revealed. It's a good opportunity to talk with mature teens about how, when, and if violence is an acceptable way to bring about change in the face of so much misery.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Iron Widow. How much is too much? Are Zeitan's actions justified? Why, or why not?
What about the strong language? Is reading it in a book different from hearing it in movies, games, social media, etc.?
What do you think of Zetian? Is she a positive role model? What are her character strengths and weaknesses? How do the ways she uses her strengths affect her character?
Book Details
- Author: Xiran Jay Zhao
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Robots
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Penguin Teen
- Publication date: September 21, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
- Number of pages: 400
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: February 1, 2022
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