Paper Girls Volume 1 (2016) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Virtually non-existent, though there is some light 1980s-era banter regarding boyfriends or attractiveness. In an opening dream sequence, Erin experiences a surreal vision featuring a stylized depiction of an angel with a visible, though non-graphic, chest. This moment is handled artistically rather than erotically, serving as a metaphor for the loss of innocence. The girls occasionaly discuss gender roles and social expectations of the era. No sexual activity or nudity occurs beyond this initial symbolic imagery.

Moderate to strong stylized graphic novel violence that can be quite visceral. Characters are threatened with blunt objects like hockey sticks and firearms; there are bloody injuries following falls and physical altercations. Science-fiction weaponry results in characters being 'disintegrated' or graphically wounded in ways that defy physics but remain visually intense. One scene features a character being shot with an arrow, showing significant blood on their person and surroundings. The peril is constant…

Strong and frequent throughout, reflecting the rougher edge of the 1980s setting. The book uses 'f--k', 'sh-t', 'a--', 'hell', and 'bitch' with high regularity, especially from the character Mac. It also includes period-accurate but offensive homophobic slurs and ableist language used by antagonistic teenage bullies to illustrate their hostility. The girls themselves use milder profanity frequently as a defense mechanism or in response to the terrifying events they witness. Parents should be prepared for the grit…

Very mild and largely atmospheric to the time period. Some adult characters are seen smoking cigarettes, and the character Mac is seen holding and lighting a cigarette, reflecting her rebellious persona in the 1988 setting. There are brief glimpses of beer cans in the background of suburban scenes, but no significant underage drinking or drug use by the main characters is depicted. The focus remains on the action and sci-fi mystery rather than substance abuse.

Heavy themes of the transition from childhood to adulthood are central, often represented through the girls' encounters with their future selves. The narrative explores the fear of the unknown and the inevitability of death as characters face life-threatening sci-fi anomalies. There is a strong sense of existential dread mixed with nostalgia for the late 80s, highlighting how quickly technology and society evolve. The girls grapple with issues of class, broken families, and the responsibility of adulthood being…