Dickens & Rumi

book

Going Solo

Roald Dahl · 1986

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Going Solo by Roald Dahl. This book is content notes include Frightening scenes, Death of a character, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Educational value.

Book 2 · Boy and Going SoloSource checked

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5 · Violence 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Educational value 4/5
Series positionBook 2 · Boy and Going Solo
Recommendation3.5/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Frightening scenes 4/5
Recommendation 3.5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
16Scored categories
16Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth16 scored categories16 evidence notes
Show Wikipedia summary

Open to load a short Wikipedia summary.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Death of a character3/5
  • Violence3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Educational value4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

  1. Book 1 · BoyAges 10+
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Going Solo
    Frightening scenes4/5Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Strong language2/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

War-related deaths and the possibility of dying recur; loss is treated as part of the memoir’s wartime experience.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Injuries and medical consequences are described, but graphic gore is not the focus.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Some dated insults, ethnic terminology, and adult military language may appear; language is not a main focus.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Religious ideas or references may occur incidentally but are not prominent.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Some adult social and romantic context appears, but romance is not central to the narrative.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Plane crashes, aerial combat, serious accidents, isolation, and life-threatening wartime situations create sustained tension.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Any sexual material is brief or incidental rather than described in detail.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Adult drinking and period social use of substances may occur, without being the book’s central theme.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Combat missions, crashes, weapons, and wartime danger are described in a direct memoir style, with real physical consequences.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Facing combat, crashes, painful recovery, and uncertainty is central to the memoir and strongly supports courage.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

Vivid storytelling and unusual real-life experiences can spark imagination, though inventive problem-solving is secondary to memoir and history.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

The memoir includes varied wartime and international settings, but representation is shaped by a white British colonial-era viewpoint.

Educational value4/5
Why this rating?

Provides substantial historical and experiential insight into RAF service, World War II, flying, Africa, and wartime life.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Companionship, care, and help appear amid military life, but kindness is not the primary subject.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Emphasizes resilience, adaptability, responsibility, friendship, and endurance while also reflecting critically on war and empire.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Dahl shows courage and perseverance, though the adult wartime perspective and period attitudes are not uniformly exemplary.

Family discussion

Talk about it

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. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in Going Solo would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Going Solo, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.