Dickens & Rumi

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War of the cards

Colleen Oakes · 2017

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for War of the cards by Colleen Oakes. This book is recommended for ages 14+; content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Courage & resilience.

Ages 14+Source checked

Why this age? Teen fantasy with sustained peril, battles, deaths, threatening creatures, betrayal, grief, and darker emotional themes; romance and language appear relatively restrained. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence4/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Character deaths and the threat of execution are central to the plot and the protagonist's development.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional descriptions of injuries or blood consistent with dark fantasy, but not gratuitous.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Contains mild profanity and harsh, confrontational language appropriate for the tone.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Includes teen romantic subplots and tensions that influence character choices.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Dark Wonderland settings, threatening creatures, imprisonment, pursuit and recurring danger create a consistently tense, frightening atmosphere.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Features mild romantic tension and occasional suggestive references common in YA literature.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mention of alcohol or fictional substances in a social context.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Features fantasy combat, execution threats, and dangerous magical confrontations.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters demonstrate bravery in the face of impossible political and magical odds.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The imaginative Wonderland-inspired setting, altered mythology, court politics, and inventive magical elements strongly support creative engagement.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Features a cast in a fantasy setting; diversity is limited by the source material's focus.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Kindness is portrayed, but often overshadowed by the harsh realities of the kingdom's politics.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes loyalty, resistance to oppression, sacrifice, identity, and the consequences of power and revenge.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist undergoes a morally complex arc that challenges traditional notions of a role model.

Family discussion

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

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in War of the cards would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in War of the cards, and what caused that change?
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