Parents' Guide to

Red Rising

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Incessant cruelty spoils action-packed sci-fi saga.

Book Pierce Brown Science Fiction 2014
Red Rising 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 10 parent reviews

teddyd15
teddyd15 Parent of 5 and 13-year-old
March 21, 2023
age 16+

Ambitious first book, probably okay for 15+ y/o to read

Definitely more intense and violent than The Hunger Games books, and sexual violence/rape is mentioned, but never described in detail.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
SammyS2112
SammyS2112 Adult
January 3, 2020
age 17+

Good sci-fi premise, has a lot to be desired

Red rising shocked me when I read it, from the marriage age for girls being 14 to the caste system designating ‘Brown’ people as servants, ‘pink’ people as sex workers and sex slaves, I was not thrilled with this book. I would recommend that parents read this book before letting their children read it to made sure it’s not including anything you wouldn’t want them to see.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the color-coded society of future Mars, Darrow is a Red who spends his days underground, mining helium-3 for the Golds, who live on the surface and are supposedly terraforming the planet for the good of all. After his wife is sentenced to death, Darrow swears vengeance on his family's oppressors. When he's given that chance, he learns that nearly everything he's been told is a lie. Darrow undergoes a harrowing physical transformation so that he can pass as a Gold warrior, but if he's to survive, he may have to adopt the worst aspects of those he would betray.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (21 ):

RED RISING is action-packed, suspenseful, and frequently clever, a futuristic riff on The Count of Monte Cristo. Unfortunately, its better qualities are buried by the melodramatic posturing of its protagonist and by the incessant cruelty of its plot and supporting players. Author Pierce Brown clearly has a strategy for the long haul, in which lessons will be learned about the cost of vengeance, but the constant violence, aggressive language, and general unpleasantness of nearly every character overshadows and undercuts any positive message.

Older teens may respond to the high emotional level of the writing, but some may miss the point that Darrow's attitudes and actions are not to be emulated.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why science fiction stories about teens participating in deadly contests are so popular. What is it about works like The Hunger Games or Ender's Game that appeals to young readers?

  • What makes a good leader? Bravery? Empathy? Ruthlessness?

  • What are the drawbacks of trying to win at any cost?

Book Details

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