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.

The Darkest Minds, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 7 parent reviews

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.
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

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.

Book Details

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