Dickens & Rumi
Cover of THIS THING OF OURS

book

THIS THING OF OURS

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Frederick Joseph

Is THIS THING OF OURS appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

A career-ending basketball injury prompts Ossie to join a competitive creative writing program at the predominantly white Braxton Academy. (Ages 14 to 17)

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsAlcohol or drugs 1/5 · Death of a character 1/5 · Strong language 1/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Diverse representation 4/5
Recommendation4/5

Courage & resilience; 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

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: alcohol or drugs.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Alcohol or drugs 1/5
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 20, 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 ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Alcohol or drugs1/5
  • Death of a character1/5
  • Strong language1/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Diverse representation4/5
  • Educational value4/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

Loss or death may be discussed in a broader social context, but there is no evidence of a character’s death or a central grief storyline.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Social-justice discussion may include firm or emotionally charged terms, but notable profanity or frequent harsh language is not established.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Substance use is not a meaningful feature of the story.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Mentions of systemic violence and historical context, but not graphic depictions.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

It presents courage as speaking honestly, honoring identity, and standing with others in the face of injustice rather than taking reckless risks.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

Encourages critical thinking and creative ways to approach personal identity.

Diverse representation4/5
Why this rating?

Deeply focused on the nuance of Black experience and intersectional identity.

Educational value4/5
Why this rating?

The book appears intended to build understanding of identity, community, social structures, and collective action, offering substantial social learning.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Empathy, care, cooperation, and support within family and community are prominent.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strong messages emphasize family, mutual care, community responsibility, heritage, and collective belonging.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

The author serves as a reflective, authentic figure navigating life's challenges.

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