A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Educational Value
some
Martian society in Red Rising is patterned after the ancient traditions of Greece and Rome, with Houses named for Minerva, Aphrodite, Jupiter, and other mythological figures. Ancient philosophers are sometimes quoted to justify present-day actions.
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Positive Messages
some
Red Rising is a novel about revenge, cruelty, and deception on a grand scale. The series may eventually turn out to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of vengeance, but that theme may not be readily apparent to teen readers.
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Positive Role Models
some
Throughout Red Rising, the reader is supposed to root for Darrow as he plots his revenge against the Golds who destroyed his family and enslaved his people. Unfortunately, Darrow must be nearly as cruel as his tormentors for his plan to succeed. He usually feels bad about his worst behavior and manages to avoid being truly abominable. But some younger readers may not see the gray areas in how he is presented.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Red Rising is extremely violent, from start to finish. Physical combat seems to be part of nearly every scene. Darrow and the supporting characters are stabbed, impaled, whipped, hung by the neck, hacked at with axes, and electrocuted. Although it happens offstage, women are raped and enslaved.by opposing factions.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
At the start of Red Rising, Darrow and Eo are both 16, married.and presumably share an adult sex life. After Eo is killed, Darrow forms a relationship with another young woman, Mustang. They sleep together for warmth, but there are few other details about their physical intimacy.
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Language
a lot
The language is Red Rising is rough, with multiple uses of "s--t," "a--hole," "prick," "piss," "hell," and "damn," along with setting-specific slang such as "bloodydamn" and "gorydamn," The aggressive male characters are fond of threatening to urinate on each other.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
Darrow and his companions pretend to get drunk to surprise their enemies.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Red Rising is a science-fiction adventure story set in a mining colony on Mars, the first of a planned trilogy. It's filled with nonstop action, extreme violence, and coarse language, with multiple uses of "s--t," "a--hole," "prick," "piss," "hell," and "damn," along with setting-specific slang such as "bloodydamn" and "gorydamn." Physical combat is a part of nearly every scene. Protagonist Darrow and the supporting characters are stabbed, impaled, whipped, hung by the neck, hacked at with axes, and electrocuted. Although it happens offstage, women are raped and enslaved. Sexual content is minimal: The main character is married and widowed at 16, and later begins another romantic relationship, the details of which are vague. The series may eventually turn out to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of vengeance, but that theme may not be readily apparent to teen readers.
What's the Story?
In the color-coded society of future Mars, Darrow is a Red who spends his days underground, mining helium-3 for the Golds, who live on the surface and are supposedly terraforming the planet for the good of all. After his wife is sentenced to death, Darrow swears vengeance on his family's oppressors. When he's given that chance, he learns that nearly everything he's been told is a lie. Darrow undergoes a harrowing physical transformation so that he can pass as a Gold warrior, but if he's to survive, he may have to adopt the worst aspects of those he would betray.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why science fiction stories about teens participating in deadly contests are so popular. What is it about works like The Hunger Games or Ender's Game that appeals to young readers?
What makes a good leader? Bravery? Empathy? Ruthlessness?
What are the drawbacks of trying to win at any cost?
