Books should surprise you, not blindside you.

That’s why every book review on this site includes a Content Suitability Rating (CSR) and, when applicable, Content Warnings (CW)—so you can decide before you start reading whether a book aligns with your comfort level, values, or reading goals.

Content Rating System

🔵 CSR-1: Suitable for Everyone

1

  • No significant mature content

  • Light fantasy violence, adventure, or mild peril

  • No explicit language or sexual content

  • Themes: friendship, family, overcoming obstacles

  • Examples: Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter (early books)

🟢 CSR-2: Suitable for Most Children, Some Hard Topics

2

Generally safe for young readers but may include heavier emotional or thematic elements

  • No explicit sex, graphic violence, or strong profanity

  • May contain:

    • Difficult life topics: Death, trauma, grief, moving, divorce

    • Mildly mature themes: Bullying, harassment, mental health, self-discovery, religious/spiritual exploration

    • Mild substance references: Underage drinking, drug use in a cautionary context

  • Examples: Bridge to Terabithia, Wonder, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter (later books)

🟡 CSR-3: Teen & YA – Contains Mature Themes

3


Not suitable for young children but appropriate for teens and young adults

  • May contain:

    • Moderate violence: War, death, physical fights

    • Romance & Sexuality: Kissing, implied sex, fade-to-black intimacy

    • Stronger themes: Addiction, mental health struggles, exploitation, language

    • LGBTQ+ exploration, identity themes

  • No graphic sexual content or extreme violence

  • Examples: The Hunger Games, The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

🔴 CSR-4: Explicit & Dark Themes – Adult Readers Only

4

Heavy violence, explicit sex, or deeply disturbing themes

  • May include:

    • Graphic violence & torture

    • Explicit sex scenes (beyond fade-to-black)

    • Heavy drug use, abuse, exploitation

    • Psychological horror, extreme mental health themes

  • Examples: Zodiac Academy, Fifty Shades of Grey, Game of Thrones