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Quick answer: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is best for ages 12 and up. It’s a clever puzzle mystery about a girl who inherits a billionaire’s fortune, with some danger, a shooting, kissing and mild language, but no sex or graphic violence, so it’s one of the cleaner popular YA series.
Quick facts
Recommended age: 12+ (10+ for strong readers)
Reading level: Middle school to teen
Genre: YA mystery
Published: 2020, first of a series
Main concerns: Peril, a shooting, family secrets, kissing
TV: An adaptation has been announced
The Inheritance Games is a modern puzzle mystery that teens adore, often described as Knives Out meets The Westing Game. It’s full of riddles, secret passages and family secrets, and it’s refreshingly clean for a popular YA series. This guide explains what’s in it so you can decide when your child is ready.
Table of Contents
What Is The Inheritance Games About?
Avery Grambs is a smart, struggling high school student who sleeps in her car. Then she learns that billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, a man she’s never met, has left her almost his entire fortune.
To claim it, she must live in Hawthorne House, a mansion full of secret passages and puzzles, with the furious family he disinherited, including his four grandsons. Avery must figure out why she was chosen, while someone may want her dead.
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Content Guide for Parents
| Content | Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Violence | Mild to moderate | Avery is shot at and faces other dangers. |
| Romance | Mild | Kissing and a love triangle with two of the grandsons. |
| Language | Mild | Occasional mild swearing. |
| Family secrets | Central | Lies, grief and dysfunction in the Hawthorne family. |
| Drinking | Minimal | Very little. |
| Positive messages | Strong | Intelligence, resilience, loyalty and fairness. |
Age-by-Age Breakdown
| Age | Is The Inheritance Games a Good Fit? |
|---|---|
| Under 10 | Usually too complex; try Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. |
| 10 to 11 | Fine for strong readers who love puzzles. |
| 12 to 15 | The sweet spot. |
| 16 and up | A fun, quick mystery. |
Why Puzzle-Loving Kids Love It
Readers can try to solve the clues alongside Avery, from riddles hidden in wills to codes in the architecture of Hawthorne House. The four Hawthorne brothers each have different personalities, and fans love debating them.
It’s a great step up for kids who loved The Westing Game or The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Is The Inheritance Games Okay for a 10- or 11-Year-Old?
Strong readers of 10 or 11 can enjoy it. There’s no inappropriate content beyond mild danger and kissing. The puzzles can be complex, and the romance may be less interesting to younger readers.
The sequels, The Hawthorne Legacy and The Final Gambit, are similar in content, and the spin-off The Grandest Game is also clean.
What Parents Should Know
- It’s clean. No sex scenes and little swearing.
- There’s a series. Plus spin-offs.
- The puzzles are the star. Great for logical thinkers.
- The love triangle is mild. It’s mostly about tension and choices.
- An adaptation has been announced. Check its rating when it arrives.
How to Tell If Your Child Is Ready for The Inheritance Games
- Read the first chapter yourself. Ten minutes with the opening pages tells you a lot about the tone of The Inheritance Games.
- Think about what upsets your child. Every child is different, so match the content table above to your own child rather than to their age alone.
- Ask what they already know. Kids often hear about popular books from friends, so ask what they expect and why they want to read it.
- Offer to read it together. Reading at the same time, or aloud, makes it easy to pause and talk about hard scenes.
- Keep the door open. Tell your child they can stop at any time and come to you with questions.
A Simple Plan for Reading The Inheritance Games Together
- Before reading: look at the cover and blurb together and ask what your child expects from The Inheritance Games.
- While reading: check in every few chapters with one open question, such as “What surprised you?”
- After a hard scene: ask how it made them feel rather than what it means.
- After finishing: talk about the ending, then let your child choose what to read next from the suggestions below.
Questions to Talk About With Your Child
- Why do you think Tobias Hawthorne chose Avery?
- Which Hawthorne brother do you trust most?
- Which puzzle was your favorite?
- What would you do with a huge inheritance?
- How does Avery handle being an outsider?
If Your Child Isn’t Ready Yet: Similar Books to Try
These puzzle mysteries suit different ages.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein: ages 8 and up. Kids must solve puzzles to escape a high-tech library. It’s fun and clever.
Check price of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library on Amazon
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson: ages 10 and up. Two kids follow clues to a hidden fortune and uncover a story of racial injustice.
Check price of The Parker Inheritance on Amazon
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson: ages 13 and up. A true-crime fan investigates an old kidnapping at her boarding school.
Check price of Truly Devious on Amazon
Related: what age One of Us Is Lying is appropriate for and best book club books for teens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is The Inheritance Games appropriate for?
The Inheritance Games is best for ages 12 and up, though strong readers of 10 often enjoy it.
Is there anything inappropriate in The Inheritance Games?
No. It has mild danger, a shooting, kissing and mild language, but no sex or graphic violence.
Is The Inheritance Games a romance?
It’s mainly a mystery, with a mild love triangle.
How many Inheritance Games books are there?
The main trilogy is The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy and The Final Gambit, plus a fourth book and spin-offs.
What should my child read after The Inheritance Games?
Truly Devious, One of Us Is Lying for older teens and The Westing Game are popular next reads.