Dickens & Rumi

book

This is our story

Ashley Elston; Eric Michael Summerer; Amy Melissa Bentley · 2016

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for This is our story by Ashley Elston; Eric Michael Summerer; Amy Melissa Bentley. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Positive messages, Courage & resilience.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Violence3/5

Strongest positives

  • Positive messages4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity2/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

The characters’ affluent background may be visible, but the novel is not focused on brands, products, or purchasing.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

A teen’s death is central to the plot, and characters grapple with guilt, grief, secrecy, and the impact on families.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

The killing and injuries are not presented with prolonged graphic detail, though the shooting is a serious event.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Some profanity, insults, and harsh interpersonal language occur in dialogue among teens.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Teen attraction and relationship concerns are present but secondary to the murder mystery and friendship dynamics.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

The murder mystery, concealed information, possible suspects, threats, and fear of consequences create sustained suspense.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

There is limited teen sexual content or discussion, without explicit sexual activity being central.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Teen social settings may include drinking or references to alcohol; substance use is not the central focus.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

A teenage character is shot and killed; the investigation includes discussion of the shooting, weapons, threats, and tense confrontations.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters face danger, grief, social pressure, and the difficult choice between silence and telling the truth.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The mystery encourages deduction, perspective-taking, and connecting clues, though creative making is not a major theme.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

The book addresses differences in class, social power, and prejudice, though those dimensions are more prominent than broad representation.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It offers incidental insight into justice, privilege, social pressure, and criminal investigation rather than formal instruction.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Friendship, empathy, and concern for affected families appear, though loyalty sometimes conflicts with honesty and justice.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes truth, accountability, consequences, loyalty, privilege, prejudice, and the harm caused by protecting wrongdoing.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters show loyalty and courage but also make serious ethical mistakes; the novel invites reflection rather than presenting uniformly exemplary behavior.

Family discussion

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

  1. What message do you think the story most wants you to remember?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in This is our story would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in This is our story, and what caused that change?
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