What Age Is The Lovely Bones Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide

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Quick answer: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is an adult novel best for ages 16 and up. It’s narrated from heaven by a 14-year-old girl who was raped and murdered, and while the opening crime isn’t described in graphic detail, it’s very disturbing, and the book also includes sexual content and strong language.

Quick facts
Recommended age: 16+
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Literary fiction
Published: 2002
Main concerns: Rape and murder of a child, sexual content, grief
Movie rating: PG-13 (2009 film)

The Lovely Bones was a huge bestseller and is sometimes read by teens because its narrator is a teenager. It’s a story about grief, family and healing, told from an unusual point of view. It begins, however, with the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl, and it’s written for adults. This guide explains what’s in it so you can decide whether your teen is ready.

Table of Contents

What Is The Lovely Bones About?

“My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.” Susie narrates from her own heaven as she watches her family and friends on Earth.

She sees her parents’ marriage strain under grief, her younger sister grow suspicious of a neighbor, and her murderer go unpunished. Over years, the people she loved slowly find ways to heal and move on.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold book cover

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Content Guide for Parents

Content	Level	What to Expect
Sexual violence	Significant	Susie’s rape and murder are described at the start, not in graphic detail but clearly.
Sexual content	Moderate	Susie’s mother has an affair, and in a fantastical scene Susie occupies a friend’s body to be with a boy.
Violence	Moderate	The murderer’s other crimes are referenced.
Grief	Central	The family’s grief dominates the book.
Language	Moderate	Some strong language.
Positive messages	Moderate	Healing, love and letting go.

Age-by-Age Breakdown

Age	Is The Lovely Bones a Good Fit?
Under 14	Not recommended because of the rape and murder of a child.
14 to 15	Most parents say not yet; try Elsewhere instead.
16 and up	More appropriate, ideally with discussion.
Adults	The intended audience.

Why Teens Are Drawn to It

Susie’s voice is a teenager’s, and her longing for the life she lost speaks to young readers. The 2009 film, rated PG-13, also brought new readers to the book.

But the book is far more explicit than the film, and its subject matter is very heavy for younger teens.

Is The Lovely Bones Okay for a 14- or 15-Year-Old?

Most parents feel it’s better to wait. The crime at the start is deeply disturbing, and the sexual content is adult. Some mature 15-year-olds read it with a parent’s involvement.

For younger teens curious about stories told from the afterlife, Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is a gentle alternative.

What Parents Should Know

It’s adult fiction. Written for adult readers.
The opening is disturbing. The crime happens in the first chapter.
The film is milder. It’s rated PG-13.
It’s about grief. Most of the book follows the family’s healing.
It moves slowly. The story spans years, which some teens find hard to stick with.

How to Tell If Your Child Is Ready for The Lovely Bones

Read the first chapter yourself. Ten minutes with the opening pages tells you a lot about the tone of The Lovely Bones.
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 Lovely Bones Together

Before reading: look at the cover and blurb together and ask what your child expects from The Lovely Bones.
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

How does each family member cope with Susie’s death?
Why does Susie find it hard to let go?
What does “lovely bones” mean by the end?
How does the book show healing?
What would your heaven look like?

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 (US).

Better Choices for Younger Teens

These books explore life, death and grief with gentler content.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin: ages 12 and up. After a 15-year-old dies, she finds herself in an afterlife where people age backward. It’s gentle and moving.

Check price of Elsewhere on Amazon

If I Stay by Gayle Forman: ages 13 and up. After a car crash, a 17-year-old cellist must decide whether to live. It’s emotional and hopeful.

Check price of If I Stay on Amazon

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng: ages 15 and up. A family unravels after their daughter’s death in 1970s Ohio. It’s literary and thoughtful.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng book cover

Check price of Everything I Never Told You on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions