Dickens & Rumi

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Tell the wind and fire

Sarah Rees Brennan · 2016

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Tell the wind and fire by Sarah Rees Brennan. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include Romance, Death of a character, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Positive messages.

Ages 14+Source checked

Why this age? Best suited to teens because of dystopian oppression, peril, violence, death-related grief, moral complexity, and romantic themes; sexual content appears limited rather than explicit. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

  • Romance4/5
  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Positive messages4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Significant plot points involve the death of characters and the constant threat of lethal consequences.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Minor instances of injuries described, but not gratuitous or excessive.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Mild profanity and some harsh insults reflecting the antagonistic environment.

LGBTQIA characters1/5
Why this rating?

Includes minor LGBTQIA representation, though it is not the primary focus of the story.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

No significant religious practice or themes present.

Romance4/5
Why this rating?

Romantic feelings and relationships are central to the protagonist's emotional and narrative arc.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Oppressive surveillance, peril, threatening forces, and tense confrontations create sustained suspense.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Mild romantic tension and implied intimacy consistent with the YA genre.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional references to social drinking, but not central or glamorized.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Includes fantasy combat, magical skirmishes, and systemic oppression involving physical conflict.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Characters confront oppression, danger, and personal loss, often taking substantial risks for freedom or others.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

Features unique magical concepts and imaginative world-building elements.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Includes some diversity of identity, though the world-building is highly structured.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Offers insight into themes of class struggle and social dynamics, though intended as fiction.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Empathy, loyalty, sacrifice, and care for others matter, even in a harsh and divided society.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes resistance to injustice, compassion, moral responsibility, identity, and the costs of oppression.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Characters show loyalty, courage, and moral growth, though they also make difficult or questionable choices.

Family discussion

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did relationships or romance affect the characters’ choices?
  3. Which choice in Tell the wind and fire would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Tell the wind and fire, and what caused that change?
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