Dickens & Rumi

book

How to Fall

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Jane Casey · 2013

Is How to Fall 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 How to Fall by Jane Casey. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Romance; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

Source checked

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5 · Romance 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Good role models 3/5
Recommendation2.8/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

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

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 2.8/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
15Scored categories
15Evidence notes
1Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 23, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
Show Wikipedia summary

Open to load a short Wikipedia summary.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Romance3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

A death is central to the mystery, with its circumstances and effects driving the plot and affecting the characters.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Some mild teen-appropriate profanity reflective of realistic dialogue.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

The central plot revolves around a failing romantic relationship and the emotional fallout of deceit.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Sustained suspense, secrets, criminal danger and investigation create a tense atmosphere, but the available evidence does not indicate extreme horror or graphic peril.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Some mild, age-appropriate references to relationships.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Brief mentions of underage social drinking typical for this genre.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Includes tense situations involving police investigations and criminal elements, but limited physical violence.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Graphic injury · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Required for the protagonist to face the truth and move forward after a painful discovery.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Engaging narrative structure promotes critical thinking about character motivations.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The available descriptions indicate limited emphasis on varied backgrounds, identities or experiences beyond the main contemporary setting.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Incidental exploration of legal consequences and interpersonal dynamics.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Characters navigate difficult interpersonal situations, highlighting the value of supportive friendships.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Explores themes of personal responsibility, truth-seeking, and the impact of one's choices.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Protagonist learns resilience through adversity, though characters make realistic, flawed decisions.

Family discussion

Talk about it

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

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in How to Fall would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in How to Fall, 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.

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.