Dickens & Rumi
Cover of THE REST OF THE STORY

book

THE REST OF THE STORY

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Sarah Dessen

Is THE REST OF THE STORY appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Emma Saylor falls in love when she spends the summer with her deceased mother's family. (Ages 13 to 17)

Ages 14+Source checked

Why this age? The novel addresses a parent’s heroin overdose, addiction, rehabilitation, alcohol-related death, grief, class divisions, and adolescent romance. Its emotional themes and YA prose suit mature teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 14+
Strongest cautionsAlcohol or drugs 5/5 · Death of a character 4/5 · Romance 3/5
Strongest positivesPositive messages 4/5 · Courage & resilience 3/5
Recommendation3.3/5

Positive messages; strongest caution: alcohol or drugs.

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

Quick context

What parents should know

The novel addresses a parent’s heroin overdose, addiction, rehabilitation, alcohol-related death, grief, class divisions, and adolescent romance. Its emotional themes and YA prose suit mature teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Positive messages; strongest caution: alcohol or drugs.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: Alcohol or drugs 5/5
Recommendation 3.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
15Scored categories
15Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 22, 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 depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs5/5
  • Death of a character4/5
  • Romance3/5

Strongest positives

  • Positive messages4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5

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What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Minor mentions of brands in a realistic setting, but no commercial promotion.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist's mother died of a drug overdose, and a secondary character's father died in a boating accident; these events drive the narrative.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mild profanity consistent with contemporary young adult fiction.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Features a light, age-appropriate teenage romance between the protagonist and a friend from her childhood.

Frightening scenes1/5
Why this rating?

Realistic grief, addiction, overdose, and a past accidental death may feel unsettling, but there are no frightening creatures, horror elements, or sustained suspense.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Mild romantic tension; no explicit sexual content.

Alcohol or drugs5/5
Why this rating?

Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a central theme, as the protagonist learns about her late mother's fatal struggle with heroin.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Minor references to a past boating accident that resulted in a death.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Courage is shown through the protagonist's willingness to face painful truths about her mother.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Encourages personal reflection and observing the world through different perspectives.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Explores socioeconomic class differences in a thoughtful, grounded way.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Explores socioeconomic disparities and the impacts of addiction, providing a realistic social perspective.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Empathy and familial connection are key to the character development.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The novel emphasizes understanding family history, facing painful truths, resisting stigma around addiction, and integrating different parts of one’s identity.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Protagonist shows growth and resilience while navigating difficult family dynamics.

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 were alcohol or drugs portrayed, and what consequences did the story show?
  3. Which choice in THE REST OF THE STORY would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in THE REST OF THE STORY, 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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