Dickens & Rumi

book

The cheerleaders

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Kara Thomas · 2018

Is The cheerleaders 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 The cheerleaders by Kara Thomas. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Romance; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Positive messages.

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 5/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Romance 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Positive messages 4/5
Recommendation3.3/5

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 5/5
Recommendation 3.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
16Scored categories
16Evidence 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.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth16 scored categories16 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 character5/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Romance3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Positive messages4/5
  • Good role models3/5

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 character5/5
Why this rating?

The deaths of five cheerleaders form the central premise, with substantial grief and emotional impact.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Deaths and injuries are discussed with some disturbing detail, but graphic gore is limited.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Some profanity, insults, and harsh teen conflict language occur, without language being a dominant feature.

LGBTQIA characters1/5
Why this rating?

LGBTQIA-related representation or discussion is limited rather than a central focus.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Teen attraction, relationships, and romantic complications appear as part of the mystery and character lives.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

The investigation creates sustained suspense, danger, threats, secrets, and fear surrounding multiple teen deaths.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

There are sexual references and mature relationship situations, but sex is not the main focus and explicit detail is limited.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Teen social situations may involve alcohol or references to substance use, but it is not central.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Murder, a fatal crash, threats, and confrontational scenes are central, though violence is not constant or highly graphic.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist persistently investigates painful truths despite fear, social pressure, and personal risk.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The mystery invites deduction and connecting clues, but inventive creativity is secondary to suspense and investigation.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

The cast includes varied teen perspectives, though broad representation is not a major defining feature.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It may encourage awareness of investigation, grief, and interpersonal harm, but it is primarily entertainment.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Friendship, family concern, and support appear, but betrayal, bullying, and strained relationships are also prominent.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes confronting secrets, seeking truth, recognizing abuse and bullying, and taking threats seriously.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Characters show persistence and loyalty, but many make risky choices and conceal important information.

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 The cheerleaders would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The cheerleaders, 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.