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Parents' Guide to

Paper Girls

By Polly Conway, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Suspenseful time-travel tale has violence, strong language.

TV Amazon Prime Video Drama 2022
Paper Girls TV Show Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Deepers
Deepers Parent of 13-year-old
August 10, 2022
age 18+

Too much swearing!!!

The show is well done and interesting, but I couldn't take more than 2 episodes because of the CONSTANT use of the f-word and other strong curse words. It seems to be cursing for cursing's sake. It does not add anything to the show and is way over the top. Does anybody (especially a 12 yr old) actually talk like that? If so, I hope I never meet them.
TrooperS
TrooperS Adult
September 24, 2022
age 13+

Paper Girl Season 2

I liked Paper Girls very much! Action, sadness, happiness, and bonding for a second chance to reflect on how they could better their lives . ❤️👍👍 I hope they regroup and have a Season 2….
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 1988 Cleveland, four newspaper delivery PAPER GIRLS meet up before dawn on what appears to be a regular day-after-Halloween. It's Erin's (Riley Lai Nelet) first day. However, it soon becomes apparent that among the smashed pumpkins and lingering moments of mayhem, something sinister is afoot. In an instant, the girls find themselves time-traveling to 2019, where they meet their older selves and must fight together to save the world.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (8 ):

While this comic-based series will no doubt garner comparisons to Stranger Things, it's got its very own retro adventure vibe that sets it apart from anything else on television. Each of the four protagonists is well drawn (not surprising, as they originated as comic book characters), and it's fun to watch their smaller internal battles as well as the overarching fight to save the world. The young actors come together beautifully to create a lively crew that faces formidable challenges. The time-travel premise is both fun and ominous; for families looking to binge a new adventure, Paper Girls delivers the goods.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the job of delivering papers. Why do you think it's a job often given to kids?

  • How do the paper girls get along at first? How do their friendships change over time?

  • How do the paper girls exhibit courage and bravery? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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