Parents' Guide to

Monument 14

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Suspenseful survival story will grip teen readers.

Book Emmy Laybourne Coming of Age 2012
Monument 14 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 3 parent reviews

olivia E.
olivia E. Parent of 11 and 11-year-old
April 19, 2023
age 13+

great book just some iffy content

I am an 11-year-old girl this book was amazing. but when I got to the part where 2 kids attempted to have intercourse and someone was spying on them I gave the book to my parents and told them I couldn't read it. They let me continue reading and I finished the book. let me tell you I HATE reading but this book i could not put it down. One night I could not sleep so I read well... 100 pages later and 2 hrs later it was 12 on a school night. so I think this book should be 13 and up. but before letting your kids read this talk to them about gun safety and consent i rate this book a 9/10 thank you

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
PDX Mom
PDX Mom Adult
September 19, 2018
age 13+

Engrossing for Reluctant Readers... But Sex, Drugs & Violence

**This is a worthwhile read, but just know what your child is getting into*** My 12 year old son grabbed this title from his MS classroom library based solely on the cover, but said it was "really good". I realized it was when he'd read for a solid hour without timing himself (usually he'll set a timer for 30 minutes and keep checking to see how much time is left). Based on his interest, I picked it up and started reading-- it sucks you in, that's for sure. The first 100 pages or so are devoted to surviving one catastrophe after another, including adults who become extremely violent due to the influence of a chemical weapon. However, most of the violence at this point is inferred and happens "out of sight". I was a bit surprised by all the references to teenage sexuality and sex-- a 13 year old girl keeps trying to get the older boys attention by dressing in skimpy clothing and posing provocatively; there's a scene where a junior and senior boy and girl remove clothing and attempt to have sex (that one was the most shocking); then later a girl is sexually assaulted by an adult-- these passages in the book are not graphic, but did cause my son to feel uncomfortable. We did talk about it after he "read" the pages and shared our values/beliefs on the subject matter , also asked what he'd do in the same situation--he said he skimmed over many parts that he felt weren't "appropriate" (his words). There is also a shooting and a murder, so be prepared for another chat. There are also quite a few passages that have the high school students in the book drinking and taking drugs-- but again, an opportunity to share our family values. There is some "appropriate swearing", but the harsher words are inferred with dashes. All-in-all it's an engaging read and without the few passages mentioned, would be very appropriate for all middle schoolers. As it stands, it's best to know what your child is getting into when picking up this book.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A series of natural and man-made catastrophes traps a busload of 14 students, ranging from elementary school to high school, inside a Greenway super-store in Monument, Colo. Over the next 12 days, they must learn to work together in order to survive poisonous gas, violent visitors, and their own weaknesses and fears.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (22):

Although its set-up is a tad far-fetched, MONUMENT 14 is a clever and compelling one-set suspense novel. The characters are well defined, even the grade schoolers. Author Emmy Laybourne finds ways to keep the tension high throughout and devises an ending that feels both realistic and satisfying.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how having Monument 14 entirely set in one place adds to the suspense and drama. What effect did it have on you as a reader?

  • How does Monument 14 compare with other post-disaster stories you've read or movies you've seen?

  • If you had complete access to a superstore like Greenway, what items would you choose for yourself? How would you choose what you really needed to survive, rather than just what you would enjoy?

Book Details

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