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THE SIMILARS

Rebecca Hanover

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for THE SIMILARS by Rebecca Hanover. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include Frightening scenes, Death of a character, Romance; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Ages 14+Source checked

Why this age? Best suited to teens because of suicide-related grief, threatening situations, mystery violence, emotional intensity and ethical themes, while sexual content and language appear limited. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Death of a character3/5
  • Romance3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Good role models3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

The central mystery involves the death of students prior to the start of the book.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

No graphic or detailed injuries are described.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mild language typical of the young adult genre.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

Includes secondary characters and relationships that reflect LGBTQIA identities.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Young adult romantic relationships are a key subplot in the narrative.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Suspense comes from sinister secrets, surveillance, threats, pursuit, and uncertainty about whom to trust. The danger is intense but not presented as graphic horror.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Contains mild teen romance, including kissing and romantic tension.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mention of teenage partying, but not a central focus.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Includes some tense conflicts, physical altercations, and emotional strain regarding the mystery.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Young characters investigate danger and challenge powerful adults, showing moral courage as well as some reckless risk-taking.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

The cloning premise encourages imagination about identity, science and ethics, while characters solve mysteries and challenge assumptions.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features a cast with varied backgrounds and identity representation.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Explores ethical implications of biotechnology and cloning.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Friendship, empathy and support for grieving or isolated peers matter, although conflict and mistrust drive much of the suspense.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

It explores identity, consent, grief, friendship, bodily autonomy, scientific responsibility and the consequences of treating people as products.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Characters show loyalty and moral questioning, though they also make risky choices under pressure and must learn whom to trust.

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 THE SIMILARS would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in THE SIMILARS, and what caused that change?
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Dark Lord of DerkholmDiana Wynne Jones · 1998Ages 14+Drowned Ammet (Dalemark Quartet, Book 2)Diana Wynne Jones · 1977Ages 12+Cart and Cwidder (The Dalemark Quartet)Diana Wynne Jones · 1975Ages 12+The Secret AdversaryAgatha Christie · 1922Ages 13+

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

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