Dickens & Rumi

book

Going too far

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Leslie McFarlane · 1990

Is Going too far 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 Going too far by Leslie McFarlane. This book is content notes include Alcohol or drugs, Death of a character, Products & advertising; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Educational value.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsAlcohol or drugs 2/5 · Death of a character 1/5 · Products & advertising 1/5
Strongest positivesCreativity & curiosity 4/5 · Educational value 3/5
Recommendation3.3/5

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: alcohol or drugs.

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

Quick context

What parents should know

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: alcohol or drugs.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Alcohol or drugs 2/5
Recommendation 3.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
11Scored categories
11Evidence 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 depth11 scored categories11 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs2/5
  • Death of a character1/5
  • Products & advertising1/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Educational value3/5
  • Good role models3/5

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What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Publishing and industry practices may be discussed, but the book does not appear designed to sell products.

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

Death may be mentioned as part of biographical life events, but no central or graphic death is identified.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Some mild period-appropriate language may occur, but strong profanity is not identified.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Romance appears incidental to the biographical account rather than a central storyline.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Smoking and drinking may be mentioned in an era-typical adult context; glamorization is not established.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

Persisting through a difficult writing career suggests moderate perseverance rather than dramatic bravery.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Writing fiction and the creative process appear to be major subjects of the book.

Educational value3/5
Why this rating?

It may provide useful background about writing and the history of publishing.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Human relationships may be discussed, but specific examples of empathy or cooperation are not available.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The account appears to consider balancing creative integrity with commercial success.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The central writer appears persistent and hardworking, though the available evidence is limited.

Family discussion

Talk about it

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 were alcohol or drugs portrayed, and what consequences did the story show?
  3. Which choice in Going too far would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Going too far, and what caused that change?
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