Dickens & Rumi

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The Desolations of Devil’s Acre

Ransom Riggs · 2021

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for The Desolations of Devil’s Acre by Ransom Riggs. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Book 6 · Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar ChildrenSource checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Violence 4/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 5/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5
Series positionBook 6 · Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children
Recommendation4/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

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: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 4/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
15Scored categories
15Evidence notes
2Explicit 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.

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Review depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience5/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Positive messages4/5

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 · Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Romance2/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 1 · MISS PEREGRINE’S PECULIAR CHILDRENAges 13+
    Frightening scenes4/5Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  3. Book 2 · Hollow CityAges 14+
    Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Death of a character3/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  4. Book 3 · Library of Souls
    Alcohol or drugs4/5Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Romance2/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  5. Book 4 · A Map of Days
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets gentler
  6. Book 5 · The Conference of the Birds
    Frightening scenes4/5Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  7. Book 6 · The Desolations of Devil’s Acre
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same

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What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Death is a recurring theme, including the loss of allies during the conflict.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Some descriptions of injuries related to supernatural creatures, but not gratuitous or overly visceral.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mild language consistent with the young adult genre.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Includes a central teenage romantic relationship that is mostly sweet and supportive.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

The book maintains a dark, gothic atmosphere with creepy creatures and tense, life-threatening scenarios.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Features fantasy combat, supernatural battles, and perilous situations involving peculiar abilities.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Products & advertising · 0/5Sexual content & nudity · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience5/5
Why this rating?

Facing terrifying threats, loss and uncertainty with loyalty and determination is central to the protagonists' journey.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Its distinctive time-loop mythology, supernatural world-building and imaginative problem-solving strongly encourage creative thinking.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse cast of characters with varying abilities and backgrounds.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Encourages interest in historical settings and creative narrative structures.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Empathy and cooperation are central to the characters' survival and relationships.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Emphasizes themes of loyalty, bravery, and the importance of choosing one's own path.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Protagonists show growth, maturity, and a willingness to sacrifice for their friends.

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. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in The Desolations of Devil’s Acre would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The Desolations of Devil’s Acre, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

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