Content report card
Cold parent’s guide: what’s inside
Low confidence
Some
· 2/5
Profanity present in dialogue; typical for contemporary YA.
Mild
· 1/5
Likely references or discussion of sexuality; LGBTQ+ presence may include romantic or sexual themes.
Moderate
· 3/5
LGBTQ+ characters and/or themes are a substantial element of the story.
Moderate
· 3/5
Dark tone and focus on emotional difficulty, isolation, and family conflict; no graphic horror indicated but mature emotional content.
Some
· 2/5
Likely references to alcohol or drugs consistent with contemporary YA realism.
What it offers
Some
· 2/5
Character-driven but dark tone suggests nuanced rather than explicit positive messaging.
A little
· 1/5
Character-driven narrative with 'unloveable' characters suggests limited traditional role models; characters may still grow or reveal depth.
A note for parents
Mariko Tamaki's *Cold* is a character-driven YA novel with dark humor and LGBTQ+ themes that appeals primarily to older teens. The book explores mature emotional territory including isolation, identity, and difficult family dynamics, with some profanity and substance references woven throughout. Without a full plot description, confidence is limited, but the publisher, categorization as 'dark' and 'unloveable characters,' and YA labeling suggest content best suited for mid-to-older teens comfortable with contemporary realism.
Analyzed by AI · 1 month ago
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Shelved under
Diverse Characters
Weak Character Development
Unloveable Characters
Character driven
dark
funny
Young Adult
LGBTQ
ISBN 9781626722736 · Roaring Brook Press
For your family
Is “Cold” appropriate for your kid?
Cold age rating: ready from about age 14.
For younger readers
This book has a darker tone and explores mature emotional themes like isolation, identity struggles, and family conflict that work best for teens who are ready for that kind of depth. There's also some profanity, references to substances, and LGBTQ+ themes throughout—all of which land more naturally with older teens, though reading together can make it work for thoughtful younger readers around age 13.
LGBTQ+ characters or themes are part of the story (3/5).
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