Shatter Me

Plenty of gunfire: a man is shot through the forehead, others take bullets to legs and arms. A sexual assault that doesn't go beyond kissing and groping. A toddler appears to be tortured (though it turns out to be a simulation). A father chokes his son, and three characters recall growing up with child abuse and neglect. The main character recalls killing a child by accident when she was young. She also survives in an asylum for almost a year, completely isolated and starved, with talk of torture and shock treatments she endured before that.

Passionate kissing, groping, some clothing removed. Main characters talk about being ready to have sex, but are interrupted.

Mostly "s--t," but also "a--hole," "bastards," and "damn."

Mentions of alcoholic fathers.

Parents need to know that Shatter Me is the first book in a dystopian romance series by Iranian American author Tahereh Mafi. It's part of a trilogy that includes Unravel Me and Ignite Me. There is also follow-up trilogy with the same characters as well as four novellas. Newer editions of Shatter Me come with the first novella, Destroy Me, which tells much of the story from the villain's perspective. Two common dystopian themes combine in this series: what the world could look like after humans wrecked the environment, and what could happen if a totalitarian government took over. The main character, Juliette, as well as two other characters grow up with abuse and neglect. The story begins in an asylum where Juliette is starved and isolated. Violence includes gunfire, with one death and injuries, a brief sexual assault, and talk of children hurt or killed. Swearing is prevalent, but doesn't go beyond "s--t." Characters kiss, grope, and remove clothing with talk of wanting to have sex. At the core of Shatter Me is the idea of power. There are those who are hungry for it and wield it to control others, and those who have innate power and show restraint and reverence for others.