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Content Guide For Parents
Before we start...
The books I write are suitable for all ages, but they are most enjoyable for middle school through high school ages, and parents may have concerns or reservations about what is good and helpful for their children to read.
On this page, I've recorded all instances of elements or themes that potentially could give parents pause. I don't believe that the human mind should be coddled, but I do believe that parents should be able to trust the fiction their children read. For that reason, I have made this list as detailed as possible.
A NOTE ON ADULT CONTENT
I firmly believe that adult content is reserved for the privacy of marriage and has no place appearing on the pages of books. Because of this, you will never find such content in any books I write, and therefore, you will find no warning section for “spice” or nudity in these parents’ guides. Enjoy!
CONTENT GUIDE
Robbing Centaurs and Other Bad Ideas
Overview: light violence and the occasional frightening sequence.
violence and gore
One boy hits another boy with a tree branch. No one is seriously hurt, but the boy is aggravated.
Two characters grapple, and one very briefly attempts to strangle the other.
A character is knocked unconscious with a rock.
A character discusses a past injury and jokingly says he “snapped it in half” himself.
A character falls out of a window. He is not seriously injured.
A character looks over a site of a public execution, and “ragged bodies” are mentioned as being there. They are not explicitly described.
A character wraps the strap of a satchel around another character’s neck, briefly choking him. No one is significantly hurt.
A character goes out to “get in a fight with everyone he’s ever wanted to get in a fight with”. This results in an extended rampage that covers only a few paragraphs.
A few characters get into a knife fight, resulting in two characters with stab wounds. The wounds are not explicitly described.
Profanity
Uses of light insults, such as “moron”, “brigand”, and “pig-headed”.
substance use
Drinking of wine to go with a meal. No one is intoxicated.
Intense sequences
A character nearly falls into a deep chasm and visualizes breaking his neck. This visualization is not graphic and passes quickly.
Characters discuss a manner of public execution in detail. The method of execution is dramatic, involving hanging, followed by stabbing with sharpened spikes. It is mentioned that this fate awaits the protagonists if they fail.
other concerns
A central character is a known thief, and theft and stealing are a theme throughout the book. Theft is not painted in a positive light, but it is prevalent.
The two central characters argue frequently.
The characters visit the territory of a race of bat-people, who are large and intimidating. Sequences involving these bat-people could be frightening for smaller children.
world saving and other disasters
Overview: light violence and some intense sequences involving fire.
violence and gore
Two boys get into a fist fight, landing a few punches. Mentions of bruises, but no one is significantly injured.
A character is pinned down and held by a dragon-like creature, and as a result, his arms are burned quite badly. This is not described graphically.
Characters discuss how to take down a dragon, and there is talk of stabbing them in the ear or beneath the arm.
A dragon bites a character in the stomach. The wound is briefly described as being torn and bloody.
Profanity
Nothing stronger than a single use of “idiot”.
substance use
None.
Intense sequences
Two characters are repeatedly ambushed by enemy forces. Altercations are never graphically violent but are frequent in the narrative.
Characters are caught in several scenarios involving dragons and fire. Incidents of fighting the dragons are mentioned in passing, and brief wounds or attacks are described. None are graphic or over-the-top.
other concerns
​A character sinks into a brief depression. Nothing drastic happens as a result, but his depression and loss of identity are discussed several times.
Two brothers have a difficult relationship with a controlling father and a neglectful mother.
dragonfire and other nonsense
Overview: Some violence and intense sequences, especially ones involving wounds and fire. Discussion of grief and depression are prevalent throughout the book.
violence and gore
Two characters fall through tree branches and emerge scratched and slightly bloody.
Two characters threaten one another with knives. No one is hurt.
A bloodied character is dropped from the sky. His wounds are briefly described, and he dies on-page.
A character stumbles upon one of their dying enemies. The wounds of the enemy are briefly described, but the scene is not overly graphic.
A character is trapped in the claws of a fiery dragon, leaving him with burns in several places.
A character suffers a dislocated limb due to a fall.
Profanity
Uses of light insults such as “idiot” and “snake”.
substance use
Two characters drink cider. The cider is used only as a beverage, and no one is intoxicated.
A group of characters drink a bottle of wine to relax. No one is intoxicated.
Intense sequences
Characters are trapped in the rubble of a collapsed house. No one is seriously hurt but the sequence could be frightening to those with severe claustrophobia.
A character is repeatedly chased by a dragon-like creature. These sequences are tense, but not over-the-top. The dragon creatures are very large and intimidating, and appear many times throughout the book.
A character mourns the death of a controlling father. There are many heavy discussions involving this topic across the course of the book.
A self-destructive character makes plans to blow up the enemy army using barrels of gunpowder, knowing he would blow himself up with it. He is successfully stopped in time.
The same character later has a series of fever dreams and talks in his sleep in an unsettling manner.
A character discusses the death of his weaker younger brother, saying that his brother “died screaming.”
It is mentioned that in the past, a historian died in a fire that he set himself.
A character’s grief culminates in a mental breakdown, making him hysterical and unreasonable for several pages. The scene is written from his perspective, making it more visceral.
other concerns
Mental health is discussed frequently in this book, as several characters are in deep and complicated mourning. Most instances of this mental health discussion are discussed above. Whether or not this is suitable for an individual child is entirely up to parental discretion.
and everything in between
Overview: multiple discussions of difficult parent/child relationships and one instance of character peril being used as slapstick, but overall very clean and cozy.
violence and gore
Boys get into a fist-fight off-page, resulting in a character appearing bruised and bloody.
A character is found at the bottom of a hole, which he has fallen into, and injured his head and leg.
Two winged characters fall out of a tree and hit the ground. They are not seriously hurt.
Profanity
Uses of “blast” and other light insults, one curse is said but not explicitly written.
substance use
None.
Intense sequences
Two characters are caught in a lightning storm. They are frightened, but no one is seriously hurt.
A character walks into a party involving a lot of fire. His peril and fear in this scene is mainly used for comedic purposes.
other concerns
Two brothers have a difficult relationship with a controlling father and neglecting mother, and for this reason, their parents are not discussed in a positive light.