Parents' Guide to

The Darkest Minds, Book 1

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Psychic teens escape concentration camps in taut thriller.

Book Alexandra Bracken Science Fiction 2012
The Darkest Minds, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Alpine7907
Alpine7907 Parent of 11, 14 and 15-year-old
December 27, 2022
age 14+
I really enjoyed how the book was written and the concept of the story. I think that people should keep in mind that the kids are being persecuted by the United States government. There is a little bit of swearing as well.
202243
202243 Parent of 8, 9 and 12-year-old
October 3, 2022
age 16+
Other reviewers have missed the fact that the main character is sexually assaulted by an authority figure. There is also a crude and insensitive portrayal of a person being coerced into committing suicide in chapter 2. There is a absolutely no way this book is appropriate for tweens. It is of overall poor quality. There is nothing to redeem the relentless violence.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 7 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (53):

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

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