Parents' Guide to

Shattered Warrior

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Exciting tale of resisting alien invaders has romance, too.

Book Sharon Shinn Graphic Novel 2017
Shattered Warrior Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

VirtualFireball
VirtualFireball Adult
October 4, 2019
age 17+

It’s not bad, but a little on the short side.

The story is pretty good, but it is quite short. There are also no indication on when some time has skipped, so sometimes might be hard to keep up. Parents note: At the end of Part 2 (Literally the last page of part 2), there is brief partial nudity. It might catch some readers off guard (There is also brief male frontal nudity in the concept art. It is not that detailed.)There is also blood and violence throughout the entire novel (Killings, Stabbings, Beatings, Zappings, ect.) Some characters have bruises on their body after attacks. There is also brief mild language when a person tells another person “You look like hell!”
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In SHATTERED WARRIOR, alien invaders called the Derichets arrived on Colleen Cavanaugh's home planet eight years ago and destroyed her family. Now she works on an industrial conveyor belt with other survivors, making it through the day before retreating to her damaged home in the countryside. Safety isn't guaranteed, not with the dangerous gangs who operate there. But when she take in a long-lost niece, the stakes are raised even higher for Colleen. She joins a band of rebels and begins to fall in love with a reckless fighter named Jann. Should she risk her newfound family or work to free her planet by actively resisting the Derichets?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

One young woman's journey to active resistance against her planet's alien invaders proves to be thoughtful and compelling. In Shattered Warrior, author Sharon Shinn gracefully charts Colleen's path from beaten-down factory worker to committed rebel. Artist Molly Knox Ostertag expertly depicts the action, both physical and emotional. The mix of adventure and romance should hit the sweet spot for many readers. The story is open-ended, but there's a welcome sense of completion when Colleen and her fellow fighters make their stand.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Shattered Warrior and how it uses the graphic novel format to tell its story. What kinds of stories work best as graphic novels?

  • How is violence used in Shattered Warrior? Is violence an effective method of political resistance?

  • Why can it be more difficult for people to love each other in times of great danger and unrest?

Book Details

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