Dickens & Rumi
Cover of STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME

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STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Jason Reynolds

Is STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Stuntboy deals with his parents being divorced. (Ages 7 to 12)

Ages 8+Book 2 · StuntboySource checked

Why this age? Best suited to middle-grade readers; mild comic peril and emotionally serious family conflict are balanced by humor, friendship, and supportive coping themes. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Where to get it

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 8+
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 2/5 · Violence 2/5 · Romance 1/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5
Series positionBook 2 · Stuntboy
Recommendation4/5

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

Best suited to middle-grade readers; mild comic peril and emotionally serious family conflict are balanced by humor, friendship, and supportive coping themes. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 8+Main watch-out: Frightening scenes 2/5
Recommendation 4/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
11Scored categories
11Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 31, 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 depth11 scored categories11 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age8+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Violence2/5
  • Romance1/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

  1. Book 1 · STUNTBOY, IN THE MEANTIMEAges 8+
    Frightening scenes2/5Violence2/5Strong language1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIMEAges 8+
    Frightening scenes2/5Violence2/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Lower cautionsTry something gentlerMrs Pepperpot and the TreasureOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleSCARY STORIESCompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME. Open each review for the details.

BOOKMrs Pepperpot and the TreasureAlf Prøysen; Hilda Offen · 2013Ages 5+5 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKMoldy Warp the moleAlison Uttley · 1940Ages 5+5 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKThe Extra DayAlgernon Blackwood · 1915Ages 8+3 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKA gallery of childrenA. A. Milne · 1925Ages 6+1 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Mild colloquialisms appropriate for middle-grade audiences.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Not a focus of the story.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Touches on the intensity of panic attacks and internal fears.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Includes cartoonish action sequences related to the character's 'Stuntboy' persona.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Encourages bravery in facing internal fears and dealing with family changes.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The graphic-novel form, superhero framing, visual imagination, and inventive problem-solving strongly support creative engagement.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse urban setting with relatable characters from various backgrounds.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Provides excellent insight into managing childhood anxiety and social-emotional learning.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

The importance of empathy and supporting those around you is a central theme.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strong themes of resilience, emotional health, and family communication.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

Portico is a relatable, positive character learning to process difficult feelings.

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. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME, 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.

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

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