The Extraordinaries (2019) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

The romance is focused on Nicholas’s crush on the superhero Shadow Star and his evolving feelings for his best friend, Seth. Content includes some heavy kissing, suggestive comments from Nick's father about 'protection,' and discussions of queer attraction, but no explicit sexual scenes occur. Nick's fanfiction involves romanticized descriptions of superheroes that lean into physical attraction and pining. There is frequent banter between friends involving sexual innuendos and mild double entendres common in older…

Action sequences involve 'Extraordinaries' (superhumans) fighting in the streets. There are descriptions of explosions, property damage, and physical altercations involving energy blasts and weaponry. One character is a police officer, leading to discussions about the physical dangers of law enforcement. In Chapter 19 and the final climax, characters face genuine peril from gunfire, fire, and structural collapses. Nick himself gets into a physical altercation at school, resulting in minor bruising. While the…

Strong language is used regularly throughout the book. This includes multiple uses of the f-word, 'shit,' 'hell,' 'damn,' and 'ass.' The dialogue reflects a realistic, if heightened, way that older teenagers might speak in high-stress or humorous situations. Nick frequently uses profanity in his internal narration and when arguing with his friends or his father. The word 'fuck' is used more than a dozen times, often for emphasis rather than as an insult directed at others. The language is consistent with a mature…

Nick takes prescription medication for his ADHD, which is a significant part of his character development and daily routine. There are brief mentions of adults drinking alcohol, specifically Nick's father having a beer, but no underage substance abuse is portrayed. The narrative treats Nick's medication as a necessary tool for his focus rather than a plot device for abuse. During a scene at Nick's house, his father, Aaron, uses a single beer as a way to wind down after a difficult day at the precinct. There is no…

Major themes include living with ADHD, the ethics of vigilantism vs. police work, grieving the loss of a mother, and the complexity of hero-worship. The book also explores friendship and the importance of finding a support system that understands neurodiversity. Nick's internal monologue provides a constant look at the challenges of executive dysfunction and hyper-fixation. The story also grapples with the traumatic legacy of the death of Nick's mother in a bank robbery, affecting both Nick and his father, Aaron…