Children of Blood and Bone — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Discover the groundbreaking series that became a global sensation―over 2 million books sold!
An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller * A TIME Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time * A New York Times Notable Children's Book * A Kirkus Prize Finalist * Five Starred Reviews
With five starred reviews, Tomi Adeyemi’s West African-inspired fantasy debut, and instant #1 New York Times Bestseller, conjures a world of magic and danger, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir.
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
Praise for Children of Blood and Bone
"A phenomenon." —Entertainment Weekly
“The epic I’ve been waiting for.” —New York Times-bestselling author Marie Lu
“You will be changed. You will be ready to rise up and reclaim your own magic!” —New York Times-bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton
“The next big thing in literature and film.” —Ebony
“One of the biggest young adult fiction debut book deals of the year.” —Teen Vogue
This title has Common Core connections.
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The Complete Legacy of Orïsha Series:
Children of Blood and Bone (Book 1)
Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Book 2)
Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Book 3)
Frequently asked questions
Is Children of Blood and Bone appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book contains significant violence, including characters being stabbed, hanged, burned alive, and branded. It also references themes of attempted rape, physical abuse, and murder. The story includes disturbing scenes of violence, such as characters being burned alive and hanged, which may be unsettling for some readers.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have violence?
The book contains significant violence, including characters being stabbed, hanged, burned alive, and branded. It also references themes of attempted rape, physical abuse, and murder.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have scary content?
The story includes disturbing scenes of violence, such as characters being burned alive and hanged, which may be unsettling for some readers.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have religious themes?
The story incorporates elements of West African mythology and spirituality, particularly related to the Yoruba people's deities, which are foundational to the magic system in the narrative.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have racial/cultural content?
The book addresses themes of race and colorism, drawing parallels to systemic racism and injustice in contemporary society. It is described as a timely study on these issues.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have profanity?
The book features light profanity, including words like 'damn', 'dammit', 'hell', and 'bastard'.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have climate change?
No climate themes or environmental issues detected in the search results.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have sexual identity?
The narrative includes some intimate scenes that may not be suitable for younger readers, indicating the presence of sexual content.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have gender roles?
The narrative features young women as central characters who aim to save magic in their kingdom, suggesting a modern feminist framing of gender roles.
Does Children of Blood and Bone have lgbtq+ themes?
One character is described as reading as bisexual/biromantic, suggesting LGBTQ+ themes may be present in the narrative. However, the framing is noted as potentially queer baiting, indicating ambiguity in representation.
