This book is relatively light on concerning content, but there is one part of the storyline that stands out. The most concerning aspect of the book comes as the three main friends (Sarah, Hannah and West) set out for the main part of the plot. In what they feel is a disparate situation (facing Sarah moving away due to money concerns) they start considering breaking into an abandoned building where they believe there might be treasure. When West refers to this as burglary Sarah sadly replies, “only if we get caught”. They decide they basically have to do this and feel justified. This snowballs as they sneak out, buy train tickets, take an uber and tell their parents “not a full lie, just a baby one” (tries to be humorous here, never remorseful). We find they have all told their parents the same lie on where they would be (casually discussed as deceiving their parents wasn’t a big deal). Near the end there remains no remorse, just frustration at potentially getting caught. They even tell Hanah she needs a better computer password so her parents can’t gain access next time. The police arrive and call out for them to come out, to which they reply “whatever” and keep going. Sarah says they need to get outside, saying the police can’t prove they were in the building otherwise. When it is done and they get in trouble a character (attempting to be kind) says “I’m not sorry at all”. This line of content feels out of place with the rest of the book. It is probably the biggest thing to weigh when figuring out if you should let your child read this one. This is the main reason we have this as Prayerfully Consider and not Recommended.
There is a little bit of heaviness as the author sets up the story. Sarah’s family is having a lot of trouble. Dad became unexpectedly sick and now faces a life of not having the energy to function. The house is being foreclosed on.
A character flippantly says, “Everyone pray… or whatever you do”. We see several instances of things like “Ho-ly cow”, “holy crap”, “holy cow”, holy moly”. We also read “oh thank god” (author left lowercase). At a pivotal moment Sarah “sends a big wish out into the universe”.
Other things to be aware of:
Sarah recalls visiting a wax museum. She says it was “Halloween-themed”. She adds that it had “figures of Jason, Michael Myers, Ghostface, you know. Those guys”.
Luck is mentioned a few times.
Sarah refers to Hannah as having a “mischievous smile” as if it is a good thing. She goes on to say that she once “convinced me that toilet papering the tree in our evil math teacher’s front yard was a good idea” (again, here not repentful)
When trying to be nice a character says, “without you we’d probably murder each other”.
Someone remarks that a frustrating thing “makes me want to slap somebody”
The following things are referenced: the lottery, Indiana Jones, Tik Tok, The Goonies.
Halloween is held in a positive light (we read the comment, “houses decked out in ghosts, goblins, witches”, which is then called “fun” as well as the holiday being referred to as “awesome”). The author’s note says stories are a “bonus” if spooky.
The term “idiot” is used as well as ‘stuff it’, crap, sucks, jerk and fart