Dickens & Rumi

book

How we fall

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Kate Brauning · 2014

Is How we 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 we fall by Kate Brauning. This book is content notes include Romance, Death of a character, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Positive messages, Courage & resilience.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsRomance 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5
Strongest positivesPositive messages 4/5 · Courage & resilience 3/5
Recommendation3/5

Positive messages; strongest caution: romance.

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

Quick context

What parents should know

Positive messages; strongest caution: romance.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Romance 4/5
Recommendation 3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
15Scored categories
15Evidence notes
0Explicit 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.

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Review depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Romance4/5
  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Positive messages4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Kindness & empathy3/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

A friend’s death is central to the plot and strongly affects the characters, though it is not an ongoing series of deaths.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Minor references to the physical aftermath of the accident.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Some teen-appropriate profanity and mild insulting language may occur, without evidence of frequent or extreme language.

Romance4/5
Why this rating?

Romantic attraction and a complicated relationship are major drivers of the story and character development.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Features intense emotional distress and psychological tension surrounding the accident.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Contains mild sexual tension and some discussion of relationships.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional social substance use appears consistent with the high-school setting, without evidence that it is central or glamorized.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

A fatal car accident is part of the backstory, but violence is limited and not presented as sustained or graphic.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Character courage is defined by facing the truth of the past.

Creativity & curiosity1/5
Why this rating?

The novel may encourage empathy and seeing events from others’ perspectives, but imaginative or inventive problem-solving is not a main feature.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The story focuses on a small, closely connected group, with limited evidence of broad or especially prominent representation.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Explores the psychological impact of grief.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Friendships and interpersonal support are key themes.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Focuses on the importance of honesty and facing one's past to move forward.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Protagonists are realistic, flawed, and undergoing significant growth.

Family discussion

Talk about it

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 relationships or romance affect the characters’ choices?
  3. Which choice in How we fall would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in How we fall, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

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