Dickens & Rumi

book

The girl I used to be

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

April Henry · 2016

Is The girl I used to be 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 girl I used to be by April Henry. This book is content notes include Frightening scenes, Death of a character, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5 · Violence 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Good role models 3/5
Recommendation3/5

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

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Frightening scenes 4/5
Recommendation 3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
14Scored categories
14Evidence 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.

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Review depth14 scored categories14 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Death of a character3/5
  • Violence3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Death, including the murder of family members, is central to the mystery and is emotionally significant.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Murder and injuries are part of the story, but graphic blood or bodily detail is limited.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Some mild language or insults may occur, but strong or frequent profanity is not a defining feature.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

There may be limited teenage attraction or relationship elements, but romance is not the central focus.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist faces kidnapping-related trauma, threats, investigation, and sustained thriller suspense.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Any substance references appear minor and incidental rather than central or glamorized.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

The plot includes kidnapping, threats, pursuit, and violent crimes; danger is important to the mystery, though not relentlessly graphic.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist persistently investigates a frightening past and faces danger while seeking answers and justice.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The mystery can stimulate curiosity, inference, and imaginative engagement, though inventive creation is not a major theme.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Some varied characters may appear, but broad representation is not a central, well-established feature of the novel.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It may encourage reflection on memory, trauma, investigation, and identity, but teaching is not its primary purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Care and support are present, but the suspense plot focuses more on danger, secrets, and investigation than everyday kindness.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

It emphasizes confronting trauma, seeking truth, persistence, and the importance of support and justice.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist shows determination and resilience, though the story includes fear, trauma, and complicated adult behavior.

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 The girl I used to be would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The girl I used to be, and what caused that change?
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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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