The Listeners (2025) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Romance in the novel is primarily characterized by emotional pining and psychological tension rather than physical acts. Physical intimacy is limited to modest actions like kissing, holding hands, and leaning against one another for comfort, such as when characters seek refuge in the quiet of the Irish countryside. There is no explicit sexual activity or graphic descriptions of bodies on-page. The focus remains on the vulnerability of sharing one's internal thoughts rather than physical vulnerability. This…

Violence is infrequent and usually involves the physical consequences of the 'listening' power, such as painful nosebleeds, migraines, or fainting from sensory overwhelm. There are some moments of shoving and mild physical altercations between local teens that result in scrapes or bruised egos. In chapter fifteen, a character is physically intimidated and pushed, but no weapons are involved. The threat is often more psychological than physical, manifesting as the 'buzzing' pressure of others' thoughts. Final…

The dialogue contains mild to moderate profanity typical of Irish teenagers, including occasional uses of 'sh*t,' 'hell,' 'damn,' and 'ass.' Stronger expletives are rare and usually reserved for moments of extreme distress or high-stakes confrontations later in the book. Some regional slang may be used in a derogatory way during arguments between the local youth. Overall, the frequency is moderate and reflective of a contemporary YA setting. No racial slurs or highly offensive epithets are present in the text. The…

Depictions of substance use are minor and reflect rural Irish social life, focusing primarily on adults or community settings. Characters are frequently seen drinking tea or coffee during long nights of research or conversation. There are occasional mentions of adults having a drink at a pub, such as a pint of beer or a glass of whiskey, but these are background details. No significant teen substance abuse, drug use, or glamorization of intoxication occurs. The characters remain focused on their supernatural…

The narrative heavily features themes of mental health, the burden of secrets, the ethics of privacy, and the feeling of being an outsider in a small community.