A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Educational Value
a little
There are two common dystopian themes combined here: what the world could look like after humans wrecked the environment, and what could happen if a totalitarian government took over. Readers can examine both closely, think about how they intersect, and what safeguards society has in place to keep the world of the Shatter Me series strictly fictional. The series also examines the classic nature/nurture debate. Three characters suffer child abuse and all turn out very differently.
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Positive Messages
some
There's no defeating the enemy without teamwork, and there's no teamwork without compromise, communication, and understanding. Our needs and personalities change as we age and our relationships do as well.
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Positive Role Models
some
Juliette is ready to be a strong hero in this book. She says," I'd rather be shot dead screaming for justice than die alone in a prison of my own making." She calls out her ex-boyfriend Adam for wanting to simply survive. She also insists that people who hate each other learn to work together. She does the hard work of moving on from a relationship that doesn't honor who she's become. On the other hand, she puts a lot of trust in Warner, who's intense and secretive and manipulative; he tells Juliette that he knew all along who she really was.
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Diverse Representations
a little
One key character, Kenji, is Asian. Juliette is hands-down the strongest character physically and essential to winning any battle.
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Violence & Scariness
some
A battle with soldiers shot and killed, tossed into water. Rare gore with ankles crushed to the point that feet fall off and a neck squeezed to death. Intense sound waves cause pain and unconsciousness. A bedridden woman dies. Talk of many people close to the main characters dying from a bomb attack. People who survived kidnapping, torture and a gunshot wound recover from their injuries. Three characters recall growing up with child abuse and neglect, and one recalls his father whipping him every year on his birthday.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
It's assumed that main characters have sex, but only undressing, nakedness, and passionate kissing all over body are described.
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Language
a lot
A constant in heated conversations that include mostly "s--t," versions of "ass," "hell," "bastards," "damn," and "d--k."
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Products & Purchases
very little
Brief mentions of the Power Rangers and Bruce Lee.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
Mention of one character addicted to morphine and the story of a drunken soldier who beat his wife and kids.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Ignite Me is the third book in the bestselling dystopian romance trilogy Shatter Me by Iranian American author Tahereh Mafi. The series continues with a follow-up trilogy with the same characters as well as four novellas. The violence is about the same as in the previous books with brief flashes of gore -- like a man's ankles crushed until his feet fall off – but it's mostly fights on the battle field and on a ship with bullets flying. When the story begins characters morn the loss of many after a bomb explosion. The sexual content is a little more mature -- it's assumed characters have sex, but only undressing, nakedness, and all-over-body passionate kisses are described. Many heated arguments lead to swearing but it never goes beyond "s--t."
What's the Story?
In IGNITE ME: SHATTER ME, BOOK 3, Juliette wakes up to find Warner attending her after she was shot in the chest and healed. The women who healed her with their powers are now held captive by Anderson, Warner's father and the Reestablishment's Supreme Commander. And even worse, Warner reveals that Omega Point, the underground home of the resistance, was bombed and is no more. Juliette mourns, but insists she needs to see the wreckage for herself. That's when she discovers that Kenji, Adam, and a small crew of her friends are still alive and hiding out. Their reunion is full of relief at first, but things get complicated fast. It's clear Juliette and Adam no longer want the same things – romantically or otherwise -- and that Juliette is the only one who even cares if secretive, aloof, and kind-of-hot Warner lives or dies. But Juliette knows they must all combine their powers and work together if they are ever going to take down Anderson and his whole oppressive regime.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about relationships in Ignite Me. Why is Juliette rejecting Adam? Why is she choosing Warner? Can you think of any other book series that shows this level of communication about what moving on from a first love is like?
Juliette shows up as a strong hero figure in this installment. What changed about her? How does she convince Warner to work with her friends? How are they all stronger together?
What do you think is next for Juliette and for her country?
