book

An Arrow to the Moon

Name: An Arrow to the Moon
Author: Emily X. R. Pan

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Emily X. R. Pan · 2022

Is An Arrow to the Moon 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 An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X. R. Pan. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include Romance, Death of a character, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Ages 14+Source checked

Why this age? The book explores mature emotional themes including depression, suicide, family estrangement, and systemic prejudice. The narrative complexity and intense emotional weight are best suited for older teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 14+

Strongest cautionsRomance 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5

Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5

Recommendation4/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: romance.

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

Quick context

What parents should know

The book explores mature emotional themes including depression, suicide, family estrangement, and systemic prejudice. The narrative complexity and intense emotional weight are best suited for older teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: romance.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: Romance 4/5

Recommendation 4/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial

Source checkedPublication method

16Scored categories

16Evidence notes

0Explicit 0/5 checks

Oct 22, 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 depth16 scored categories16 evidence notes

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At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

Romance4/5
Death of a character3/5
Frightening scenes3/5

Strongest positives

Courage & resilience4/5
Creativity & curiosity4/5
Diverse representation4/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5

Why this rating?

Death and the legacy of loss are central themes; mentions of past suicides and familial grief.

Graphic injury1/5

Why this rating?

Occasional descriptions of injury, but not detailed or graphic.

Strong language2/5

Why this rating?

Includes occasional mild to moderate profanity.

Religious themes2/5

Why this rating?

Deeply influenced by Chinese mythology and folklore, which is treated respectfully.

Romance4/5

Why this rating?

The relationship between Hunter and Luna is central, with strong romantic feelings and a star-crossed-love structure.

Frightening scenes3/5

Why this rating?

Some supernatural elements and eerie atmosphere, but not intended to terrify.

Sexual content & nudity1/5

Why this rating?

Contains some mild romantic intimacy appropriate for young adult fiction.

Alcohol or drugs2/5

Why this rating?

Occasional underage drinking or smoking is depicted, but not encouraged.

Violence2/5

Why this rating?

Includes some instances of physical confrontation and threats, but is not gratuitous.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5

Why this rating?

Protagonists show great courage in confronting expectations and ancestral burdens.

Creativity & curiosity4/5

Why this rating?

Highly imaginative world-building blending real-world struggles with mythical elements.

Diverse representation4/5

Why this rating?

Features a strong cast with authentic exploration of Chinese-American experiences.

Educational value2/5

Why this rating?

Introduces elements of Chinese folklore and mythology.

Kindness & empathy3/5

Why this rating?

Empathy and familial love are strong drivers of the narrative.

Positive messages4/5

Why this rating?

Promotes themes of self-determination, reconciliation, and the importance of family truth.

Good role models3/5

Why this rating?

Characters are flawed but show growth and attempts at accountability.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
How did relationships or romance affect the characters’ choices?
Which choice in An Arrow to the Moon would you have made differently, and why?
Who changed the most in An Arrow to the Moon, 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.