Paper Girls, Vol. 2 (2016) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Sexual content remains minimal and is primarily confined to the awkward developmental curiosities of twelve-year-old girls. There are candid, matter-of-fact mentions of feminine hygiene products like panty-liners and brief, blunt discussions regarding 'losing virginity' as the girls speculate about their future lives in 2016. In Chapter 7, Erin encounters her older self's living space, which provides narrative clues about an adult romantic life without any visual depictions of intimacy. The dialogue occasionally…

Science-fiction violence is frequent and intense, featuring futuristic combat and monstrous creatures. In Chapter 6, the girls encounter a massive, terrifying tardigrade that causes significant property damage and necessitates the use of lethal energy weapons. The antagonists known as 'The Cleaners' utilize high-tech weaponry that results in characters being vaporized, leaving only glowing residue or ash behind. Physical altercations include characters being forcefully restrained, struck, or nearly crushed by…

The dialogue contains a high frequency of profanity intended to reflect the gritty, authentic vernacular of 1980s youth. Common expletives include 'shit,' 'bitch,' 'asshole,' and 'goddamn,' with 'fuck' used sparingly for moments of extreme shock or peril. Most notably, the character Mac frequently uses homophobic slurs like 'faggot' as a defensive verbal weapon, which is portrayed as a negative trait of her era and personality rather than an endorsement. The girls often trade insults that lean into harsh language…

Substance use is restricted to tobacco use and references to adult lifestyles in the future. Mac, the most rebellious of the group, is frequently depicted holding or smoking cigarettes, a character trait established to show her defiance of authority and 1980s norms. In Chapter 8, a conversation between Mac and a future version of herself highlights her long-term nicotine habit and the health consequences associated with it. While the 2016 setting occasionally shows adults in situations where alcohol might be…

The narrative explores heavy existential themes centered on the disappointment of unfulfilled potential and the inevitability of death. 12-year-old Erin is forced to confront her 40-year-old self, a woman who is lonely and struggling with depression, leading to profound questions about whether one can truly change their destiny. The plot takes a somber turn in Chapter 9 when a character discovers they are fated to die of leukemia in the near future, sparking a raw exploration of grief and mortality. Additional…