Death of a character5/5
book
The dead-tossed waves
Is The dead-tossed waves 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 dead-tossed waves by Carrie Ryan. This book is recommended for ages 16+; content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.
Ages 16+Book 2 · Forest of Hands and TeethSource checked
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10-second decision
Is this likely to fit your family?
Age guidanceAges 16+
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 5/5 · Frightening scenes 5/5 · Violence 5/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 3/5
Series positionBook 2 · Forest of Hands and Teeth
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
Content-guidance estimate derived from the complete published caution profile. It does not measure reading difficulty and is not a safety guarantee; family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.
Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 16+Main watch-out: Death of a character 5/5
Recommendation 3.3/5Show Wikipedia summary
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Quick view
At a glance
Recommended age16+
Strongest cautions
- Death of a character5/5
- Frightening scenes5/5
- Violence5/5
Strongest positives
- Courage & resilience4/5
- Creativity & curiosity3/5
- Good role models3/5
Reading order
Series progression
All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.
- Starting point
- Book 2 · The dead-tossed wavesAges 16+About the same
- Gets gentler
Similar, with lighter cautions
Want something gentler?
These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than The dead-tossed waves. Open each review for the details.
What’s in it?
What’s good in it?
Family discussion
Talk about it
Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.
- What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
- How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
- Which choice in The dead-tossed waves would you have made differently, and why?
- Who changed the most in The dead-tossed waves, and what caused that change?
Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings
What families noticed
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