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Six of Crows

Leigh Bardugo · 2015

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. This book is recommended for ages 15+; content notes include Alcohol or drugs, Death of a character, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Ages 15+Book 1 · Six of Crows DuologySource checked

Why this age? Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ.

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At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs4/5
  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience5/5
  • Creativity & curiosity5/5
  • Diverse representation4/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

No real-world brands or commercial product placement.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Deaths include family members, victims of experiments and plague, and other characters; grief and traumatic aftermath meaningfully affect the crew.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Injuries, corpses, plague victims, and a disturbing survival memory are present, but graphic gore is not the primary focus.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Contains moderate profanity and gritty, harsh language suitable for a criminal underworld setting.

LGBTQIA characters3/5
Why this rating?

LGBTQIA identities and relationships are represented among important characters and integrated naturally, but they are not the story's central focus.

Religious themes2/5
Why this rating?

Characters hold varied religious beliefs, and religious practices/deities are referenced as part of the world-building.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Several relationships and developing romances are important subplots, especially Nina and Matthias, alongside restrained attraction among other characters.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Prison danger, torture, human experimentation, death, addiction, kidnapping and perilous escapes create sustained, intense tension.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Sexual exploitation and a pleasure-house setting are part of backstory; romance and suggestive circumstances occur without explicit sexual depiction.

Alcohol or drugs4/5
Why this rating?

The addictive drug jurda parem drives the plot, causes dependence and withdrawal, and is used for power; gambling addiction is also prominent.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Frequent fights, armed conflict, torture, explosions, prison violence, and threats occur throughout the heist and escape plot.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience5/5
Why this rating?

Characters repeatedly face imprisonment, persecution, trauma, addiction, and near-impossible missions with determination and self-sacrifice.

Creativity & curiosity5/5
Why this rating?

Inventive heist planning, disguises, engineering, improvisation, magic, and teamwork drive the narrative and strongly stimulate imaginative problem-solving.

Diverse representation4/5
Why this rating?

The cast includes varied cultures, ethnic identities, abilities, backgrounds, and trauma experiences, with major characters given agency and distinct perspectives.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It offers incidental learning about strategy, language, cultures, disability, trauma, and moral complexity rather than formal instruction.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Care and solidarity emerge within the crew, including protection of vulnerable people, though compassion exists alongside ruthless criminal behavior.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story values loyalty, chosen family, resilience, accountability, and protecting vulnerable people over greed and exploitation.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

The young protagonists are resourceful, loyal, and protective, but they are criminals who deceive, steal, threaten, and sometimes kill.

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 were alcohol or drugs portrayed, and what consequences did the story show?
  3. Which choice in Six of Crows would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Six of Crows, and what caused that change?
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