The Scorpion Rules: Prisoners of Peace, Book 1

One of Greta's compatriots dies after being shot in the throat. Greta is tortured by having her hand squeezed by a cider press, and an adult character is later killed with one.

Some of the teens slip away at night to have sex. Greta is attracted to Xie, and the two girls kiss in an early scene. Later, Great and Xie spend a night together and presumably make love, although the details are not given.

Characters in The Scorpion Rules swear occasionally. "F--k and "s--t" are used a few times, and "damn," "hell," "bastard," "damn," "goddamned," and "dammit" appear more often.

Parents need to know that The Scorpion Rules is the first book in the Prisoners of Peace science fiction series, set in a future where the children of government leaders are held as hostages in order to prevent the outbreak of war. Violence scenes include torture and death by cider press. Misbehaving hostages receive electric shocks. A student is fatally shot in the throat. A major city is wiped out by orbital weapons. Strong language includes a few uses of "s--t" and "f--k," as well as more frequent employment of "damn," "hell," "bastard," "goddamned," and "dammit." Sexual content is understated, although it's made clear that some of the Children of Peace slip out at night to have sex. Greta and Xie share a kiss early on, and later the girls spend the night together and presumably make love.