The 100: Book 1 Book Poster Image

The 100: Book 1

age 13+
(i)

 

Captivating tale about teens sent to recolonize Earth.
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What parents need to know

Educational value

Kids learn about the politics and ethical issues of the death penalty. Readers also are encouraged to protect and care for the beautiful planet on which we live.

Positive messages

Moderation is key. Kids get a glimpse of the problems that come with too much or too little government involvement. Also, at times, it's good to question authority to discover the truth for yourself. 

Positive role models

Each of the four main characters displays great loyalty, bravery, and self-sacrifice. However, at times these characters make decisions based on hormonal impulses rather than analytical reasoning.

Violence

One man is shot with a gun, and another boy is shot with a bow and arrow. It's discussed that many people have been executed by the government through lethal injection. A mother, who suffers from mental illness, commits suicide in front of her two children. There are fistfights and an attempted rape. 

Sex

It is revealed that teens engage in consensual sexual relationships, as one teen ends up pregnant. However, these scenes are not described in detail. Passionate kissing takes place among boys and girls. 

Language

Lots of uses of “bulls--t," "sh-t," "bitch," "bastard," and "ass."

Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Two of the three wings on the spacecraft are occupied by lower-income families known to suffer from alcohol and drug addictions. Also, a secondary character develops a drug addiction to sleeping pills, which were prescribed to her while she was in the hospital. 

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The 100: Book 1 closely follows four juvenile delinquents and their journey to recolonize Earth after only ever living in space. It's a futuristic dystopian novel that includes some violence. All crimes committed are punishable by death through lethal injection, and it's mentioned that countless people in the colony have already been executed. One character is shot with a gun, and another with a bow and arrow -- their fates are left unknown to the reader. A son finds his mother on the kitchen floor submerged in her own blood after she attempts to commit suicide. Teens engage in consensual sexual relationships, and there's passionate kissing. One of the main characters (a teen girl) becomes pregnant, which is a capital crime due to the strict population-control laws. There's an attempted rape. Drug and alcohol abuse are discussed, and one character battles an addiction to prescription pills. There's also a hefty amount of swearing ("bulls--t," "bitch," "s--t," "bastard," and "a--hole").

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What's the story?

THE 100: BOOK 1 is a dystopian sci-fi novel and the inspiration for the CW series of the same name. The story takes place 300 years after a nuclear war polluted all of Earth's sources, forcing surviving members of the human race to settle in space aboard a giant spacecraft. Due to the limited supply of natural resources such as oxygen, water, and food, the authoritarian government has implemented extreme measures, making all infractions capital crimes. This severe regulation applies only to adults, whereas minors can be retried at the age of 18. Apprehension that the spacecraft has only a few good years left, the Chancellor decides to send 100 juvenile delinquents on a mission to recolonize Earth. On this journey, the reader gets a close look at the four teens, whose lives are intertwined with love, hate, loyalty, and betrayal.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

The 100: Book 1 is a captivating novel about four teens who set out to survive the most impossible of circumstances. Author Kass Morgan effortlessly weaves the four narrators' tales while cascading between the past and present. Flashbacks don’t always work in novels, but here, scenes flow naturally and keep the reader anxious to learn more about each individual’s personal story. Morgan examines issues that could arise if there were a cataclysmic decline in society while subtly shedding light on contemporary real-life political issues. Also, readers must consider the ethical dilemma of whether to punish another human being by depriving him or her of life. 

For sci-fi seekers, the only drawback is the hopelessly romantic one-liners topped with extra cheese, such as, “He tasted like joy and joy tasted better on Earth.”

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about dystopian novels. Why do you think books about oppressive futuristic governments are so popular?

  • Do you notice any similarities between political issues discussed in the novel and issues we face in America today?

  • How does The 100: Book 1 compare with other dystopian novels you've read? How is it different? How is it similar?

Book details

Author:Kass Morgan
Genre:Science Fiction
Topics:Adventures, Brothers and sisters, Friendship, Misfits and underdogs, Space and aliens
Book type:Fiction
Publisher:Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:September 3, 2013
Number of pages:336
Publisher's recommended age(s):13 - 17
Available on:Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle

This review of The 100: Book 1 was written by

Karen Wirsing
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

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Teen, 15 years old Written byKattris February 22, 2015
age 11+

BEST BOOK EVER! (though Day 21 is sort of better for me)

This book is great for older children, preferably, 11/12 and up. There are sexual references, a bit violence, lots of profanity but I LOVED IT! The plot is very thrilling, each chapter is in a different perspective of teenagers Wells, Clarke, Glass, and Bellamy. The book is very interesting, though it's a little hard to comprehend. I would say that you should read this book based on your maturity level, for instance, I was 11 when I read this, but had the maturity of a 13 year old. This book is very hard to rate, for lots of things happen in it. But this is one of my favorite books, I like it way better than the show. About the show: if you don't want to read this book, but are interested in it, watch the show on CN TV Now, but just to warn you, the book and the show are VERY different. So I recommend just reading the book, or just reading the show, not both, for you might get things mixed up. I hope this review has been helpful to you, thanks for reading it. THE 100 IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!!!
What other families should know
Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much swearing
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Teen, 13 years old Written byCari.advice November 17, 2015
age 13+

Great Book!

It is a dystopian, futuristic novel with lots of violence. I'm 13 and by now I am used to violence in books and compared to others, this book is quite calm. It has a gripping story line that drives your emotions crazy. Overall, be wary as it has sex references so a mature 12 can read also (as myself at the time). I would definitely recommend it!
What other families should know
Too much violence
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Kid, 11 years old April 14, 2016
age 11+

Gripping but much different than the TV series

I have watched the first season of the TV show. Despite enjoying it, I thought it was a bit too gory for a child of my age (I am 11 years old). I heard that it was based off of a book by Kass Morgan, so being curious, I decided to give it a read. I was shocked as the book is so much different to the TV show! It is definitely more appropriate with less GORY violence. It discusses topics such as teen pregnancy, drugs and death sentences. It does have some positive role models like Bellamy, who protects his little sister, but given that all of the 100 are juvenile delinquents, of course there are going to be characters that are murderers. It uses mild language such as "a--hole" and "bastard" etc. It isn't a long read; I read it in one day. It is a must have for fans of "The Hunger Games." I say it would be okay for mature tweens.
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