Dickens & Rumi

book

A Deadly Promise

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Joan Lowery Nixon · 1992

Is A Deadly Promise appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for A Deadly Promise by Joan Lowery Nixon. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5 · Violence 2/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Good role models 3/5
Recommendation3/5

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 3/5
Recommendation 3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
14Scored categories
14Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 24, 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 depth14 scored categories14 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Violence2/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Death is central to the mystery plot, though not described in a gratuitous manner.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Any descriptions of injury are non-graphic and kept within the genre of teenage mystery.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Mild or period-appropriate language, no profanity.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional references to faith or church attendance typical of the historical setting.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Mild romantic interests or subplots suitable for a teenage audience.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Features suspense and a sense of impending threat consistent with the mystery genre.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Contains threats and suspenseful situations involving physical danger typical of historical mystery novels.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist faces significant fears to protect others.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Encourages logical thinking and problem-solving through the mystery plot.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The historical setting appears to offer limited representation, with no clear evidence of broad, prominent diversity.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

The historical frontier setting may provide some context about 19th-century life, though teaching is not the main purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Characters display empathy and loyalty to family.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Promotes themes of integrity, courage, and perseverance.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Protagonist demonstrates strength, intelligence, and moral responsibility.

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 A Deadly Promise would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in A Deadly Promise, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

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