Death of a character2/5
book
David Balfour
Is David Balfour 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 David Balfour by Robert Louis Stevenson. This book is recommended for ages 13+; content notes include Frightening scenes, Romance, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Positive messages.
Ages 13+Book 2 · David BalfourSource checked
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10-second decision
Is this likely to fit your family?
Age guidanceAges 13+
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 3/5 · Romance 3/5 · Violence 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Positive messages 4/5
Series positionBook 2 · David Balfour
Recommendation3.5/5
Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.
This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.
Quick context
What parents should know
Sustained peril, imprisonment, duels, political conflict, deaths, and mature historical themes are handled in an old-fashioned adventure style; the language and complex prose may also require strong independent reading. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.
Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 13+Main watch-out: Frightening scenes 3/5
Recommendation 3.5/5Show Wikipedia summary
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Quick view
At a glance
Recommended age13+
Strongest cautions
- Frightening scenes3/5
- Romance3/5
- Violence3/5
Strongest positives
- Courage & resilience4/5
- Positive messages4/5
- Creativity & curiosity3/5
Reading order
Series progression
All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.
- Book 1 · KidnappedAges 14+Starting point
- Book 2 · David BalfourAges 13+Gets gentler
Similar, with lighter cautions
Want something gentler?
These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than David Balfour. Open each review for the details.
What’s in it?
What’s good in it?
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?
- Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
- Which choice in David Balfour would you have made differently, and why?
- Who changed the most in David Balfour, and what caused that change?
Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings
What families noticed
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