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Legion (2015) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

**A STORY IN THREE LIFE-SHATTERING ACTS.** INCLUDES THE NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED *LEGION: LIES OF THE BEHOLDER*. Stephen Leeds is perfectly sane. It's his hallucinations who are mad. A genius of unrivaled aptitude, Stephen can learn any new skill, vocation, or art in a matter of hours. However, to contain all of this, his mind creates hallucinatory people--Stephen calls them aspects--to hold and manifest the information. Wherever he goes, he is joined by a team of imaginary experts to give advice, interpretation, and… Sign up for the full guide

YA • 2015 • 88 pages • Grade 7-9

4.4
Average rating by Bontent members
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Age
12+

Legion is a fast-paced psychological thriller that follows a man with an extraordinary mind whose 'hallucinations' serve as specialized experts. The book earns its recommendation for older middle-grade or high school readers due to moderate violence involving firearms and intense philosophical explorations of mental health and religion. Parents should note the protagonist's struggle with his 'aspects' and the potential for perceived… Sign up for the full guide

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Is Legion appropriate for kids?

Legion is a fast-paced psychological thriller that follows a man with an extraordinary mind whose 'hallucinations' serve as specialized experts. The book earns its recommendation for older middle-grade or high school readers due to moderate violence involving firearms and… Read more — free account

Content severity in Legion

Sex None 0/10
Violence Strong 6/10
Language Mild 2/10
Substances Mild 1/10
Themes Moderate 4/10

What happens in Legion, moment by moment

  1. p. 5 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
  2. p. 8 💬 Language 1/10
  3. p. 12 ⚔ Violence & Gore 2/10
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Sex and nudity in Legion

Virtually non-existent throughout the novella. There are occasional mentions of characters being attractive, such as Monica’s professional appearance, and professional boundaries are maintained with Stephen's female aspect, Ivy. No sexual contact, suggestive physical intimacy, or explicit descriptions are present. The narrative focuses primarily on the intellectual interplay between Stephen and his hallucinations rather than romantic subplots. The tone remains clinical and focused on the central mystery of the…

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Violence and gore in Legion

Moderate and often focused on firearm usage and action-movie-style confrontations. Characters like Stephen and his guide Monica are threatened at gunpoint, and there are scenes involving kidnapping and tactical combat in Jerusalem. During these conflicts, Stephen's hallucinations suggest lethal force, leading to the death of antagonists who are attempting to control the technology. While there is gunfire and mention of injuries, the descriptions are not overly graphic or focused on gore. The violence is portrayed…

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Language in Legion

Very mild and infrequent for a modern thriller. The dialogue occasionally includes words like 'hell,' 'damn,' or internal clinical terms related to Stephen's psychological state, but it avoids heavy profanity or vulgarity. Most of the abrasive language comes from the aggressive personality of J.C., who serves as Stephen's tactical hallucination. The prose is clean, making it suitable for older middle-grade readers who are comfortable with standard action-genre dialogue. There is no usage of racial slurs or…

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Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Legion

Substance use is extremely light and largely absent from the main plot. There is a mention of a character potentially drinking a glass of wine or Scotch in a social setting, and occasional clinical references to medication or mental health treatment protocols. No recreational drug use, addiction themes, or significant intoxication scenes occur within the story. The characters remain sharp-witted and focused on their mission without the influence of mind-altering substances. The focus remains on Stephen's internal…

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Mature themes in Legion

Heavy focus on mental health, the nature of reality, and religious doubt. The core mystery revolves around a camera that can photograph the past, raising significant questions about the validity of historical and religious events. Stephen’s condition, which he distinguishes from standard schizophrenia, forces a discussion on how one defines sanity. The book explores the burden of knowledge and the ethical consequences of revealing absolute truths about the foundations of faith. Readers are prompted to consider if…

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Legion appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Legion is best for ages 12+. Legion is a fast-paced psychological thriller that follows a man with an extraordinary mind whose 'hallucinations' serve as specialized experts. The book earns its recommendation for older middle-grade or high school…

What age rating does Legion have?

Books don't carry official age ratings. Legion is shelved by its publisher as YA, but that's a marketing category, not a content rating — Bontent's own review of what's actually on the page puts it at ages 12+.

What reading level is Legion?

Legion is 88 pages and its reading level is Grade 7-9. Bontent recommends it for ages 12+.

What is Legion about?

Legion is a fast-paced psychological thriller that follows a man with an extraordinary mind whose 'hallucinations' serve as specialized experts. The book earns its recommendation for older middle-grade or high school readers due to moderate violence involving firearms and intense philosophical explorations of mental…

Is there sex or nudity in Legion?

Virtually non-existent throughout the novella. There are occasional mentions of characters being attractive, such as Monica’s professional appearance, and professional boundaries are maintained with Stephen's female aspect, Ivy. No sexual contact, suggestive…

How violent is Legion?

Moderate and often focused on firearm usage and action-movie-style confrontations. Characters like Stephen and his guide Monica are threatened at gunpoint, and there are scenes involving kidnapping and tactical combat in Jerusalem. During these conflicts…

Is the language in Legion appropriate for kids?

Very mild and infrequent for a modern thriller. The dialogue occasionally includes words like 'hell,' 'damn,' or internal clinical terms related to Stephen's psychological state, but it avoids heavy profanity or vulgarity. Most of the abrasive language comes…

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking depicted in Legion?

Substance use is extremely light and largely absent from the main plot. There is a mention of a character potentially drinking a glass of wine or Scotch in a social setting, and occasional clinical references to medication or mental health treatment…

What mature themes appear in Legion?

Heavy focus on mental health, the nature of reality, and religious doubt. The core mystery revolves around a camera that can photograph the past, raising significant questions about the validity of historical and religious events. Stephen’s condition, which…

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