Dickens & Rumi
Cover of WHAT WE DID TO SURVIVE

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WHAT WE DID TO SURVIVE

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Megan Lally

Is WHAT WE DID TO SURVIVE 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 WHAT WE DID TO SURVIVE by Megan Lally. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Strong language; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Positive messages.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Strong language 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Positive messages 3/5
Recommendation2.5/5

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 4/5
Recommendation 2.5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

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

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Review depth14 scored categories14 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Strong language3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Positive messages3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity2/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

A friend’s death drives the story, with additional past fatalities or references to them.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Injuries and a crime scene’s aftermath are described, but graphic gore does not appear to be central.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Moderate strong language is reported, consistent with a contemporary YA thriller.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Past and present romantic entanglements affect the plot, but romance is not its main focus.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

High suspense and psychological dread throughout as the characters feel hunted.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Brief references to sexual history are reported, without explicit sexual activity or detail.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional alcohol use by adults is reported; substance use is not described as a central theme.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

The YA thriller includes threats, physical confrontations, and the consequences of a past violent act.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters must find the courage to face their pasts.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The twist-driven mystery can encourage curiosity about clues and competing explanations, though it is not primarily inventive problem-solving.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The available assessment does not identify substantial representation across backgrounds, abilities, or identities.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Loyalty and empathy are tested within complicated group dynamics; kindness is present but not consistently central.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Explores the burden of secrets and the necessity of accountability.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters are flawed and make poor choices under pressure, though their struggles may provide consequences and reflection.

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 WHAT WE DID TO SURVIVE would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in WHAT WE DID TO SURVIVE, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

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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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