Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Psychic teens escape concentration camps in taut thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 57 kid reviews
Kids say the book is deeply engaging and a favorite for many, filled with strong characters and a captivating plot that explores themes of friendship, courage, and self-acceptance. However, it does contain significant violence, some disturbing scenes, and strong language, making it more appropriate for mature audiences or readers aged 12 and up.
- strong characters
- captivating plot
- significant violence
- strong language
- mature themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
As THE DARKEST MINDS opens, 16-year-old Ruby is an inmate at Thurmond, a government rehabilitation camp for children with mysterious powers. In danger of being killed, Ruby has been hiding the true nature of her powers for years. When given the chance to escape, she takes it, only to discover she's a pawn in a more complicated game. She eventually meets up with three other travelers searching for a rumored safe haven, but even her best friends won't be able to protect her when she's forced to make a terrible choice.
Is It Any Good?
Plenty of books feature kids with superpowers, but this one has an intensity that raises it above many others. The Darkest Minds is set in a near-future dystopia that feels fresh and interesting. The characters are multidimensional, especially Ruby, Liam, and Chubs. Author Alexandra Bracken generally keeps the level of suspense high and makes her readers feel the jeopardy in her characters' situations. The climax of the book is harrowing, and readers will want to continue with the next installment immediately.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Darkest Minds shows children being forcibly taken from their parents. What current examples of that are there? What excuses do government officials give in those situations?
The Darkest Minds is set in a dystopia where most children have died and many survivors have superpowers. Why are grim visions of the future popular now?
Why are memories so important to people? Would it be wrong to forcibly change someone's memories?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : December 18, 2012
- Number of pages : 488
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate