The Book of Dust, Book 1: La Belle Sauvage

A mentally unstable man determined to do harm to children is shot, stabbed, and beaten to death by those children to save their own lives. A man is found shot. A man beats his own daemon (companion animal that represents part of his spirit) and is said to have an unhealthy interest in young boys. A teen girl is held down by her arms with the threat of sexual violence. Kids are hit on the head and black out, shot at, and kidnapped. Many die in a catastrophic, many-day flood, including friends close to the main character whose building collapses on them. Bodies are seen floating in the water. A girl's rear is pinched as she works at a bar. Story of a boy sainted for turning in his family for not being Christian -- they are all executed. The story of a murderer dismembering children.

Boy witnesses part of a sexual encounter with heads visible and moaning. Talk of how babies are made. Some kissing and talk of kissing and crushes. Nonsexual nudity: a baby breastfeeds from someone who's not her mother.

A few instances of "s--t," one "f---ing," plus "bastards," "bloody hell," "damn," and "goddamn."

Many scenes where adult patrons drink and in academic circles where everyone is offered wine or hard liquor. Eleven-year-old Malcolm is tempted to take a sip of one fancy drink. A teaspoon of wine is given to a baby when she needs to be quiet for her own safety. Another time the baby is found drugged. Some smoking of cigarettes and pipes by adults.

Parents need to know that The Book of Dust, Book 1: La Belle Sauvage is the first in what author Philip Pullman calls an "equel" trilogy that matches up with his trilogy His Dark Materials. You don't have to read the first trilogy to follow this book, but it really helps. The main character in His Dark Materials, Lyra, is a baby in this story, but still has an important part to play. Eleven-year-old Malcolm and 16-year-old Alice try to save her from a kidnapping and a flood, and from a mentally unstable man who constantly stalks them. This man is maimed, shot, beaten, stabbed, and eventually killed. He beats his own daemon (companion animal that represents part of his spirit) and is said to have an unhealthy interest in young boys. A teen girl is held down by her arms with the threat of sexual violence. Kids are shot at and black out when they're hit on the head. Many die in the catastrophic flood, including friends close to Malcolm whose building collapses on them. Also of note: There's plenty of drinking and some smoking among adults, with Lyra given a sip of alcohol to keep her quiet in a dangerous situation. A sex scene is witnessed by Malcolm from the neck up, with moaning. Strong language is infrequent, but sometimes includes "s--t" and (once) "f---ing." Similar to the His Dark Materials trilogy, La Belle Sauvage deals with some deeper religious and philosophical issues. Freedom of thought and expression fight against religious intolerance. Malcolm and Alice are brave and resourceful in the face of much hardship.