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City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Simon & Schuster, 2007
Simon & Schuster, 2007
Reviewer recommended age 14 and up.Summary
Fifteen-year-old Clary thinks she is a regular high school student growing up in New York City with a single mom and a geeky guy as her best friend. Then one night she realizes that she can see things no one else can. She quickly becomes involved with a group of teenage Shadowhunters, beings who are half-human/half-angel and whose mission is to protect humanity from demons prowling the earth seeking to do evil for evil's sake. Her exhausting adventure leads to new understanding about the universe, her own power, and the details of her family.
Language
- Cursing includes "b*st*rds","h*ll", "d*ck", "*sshole", "*sshat", "d*mn", "b*tch", "g*dd*amned".
- Potentially offensive language includes "suck" and "piss off".
- Several sex-themed jokes appear about subjects including cross-dressing, orgies, "shacking up", getting to "second base", sleeping with a friend's mother.
- Characters are described as having "rockin' bods", being "hot babes", and being a "sexist pig".
- A passionate kiss leads one character to ask if he is being invited to bed.
- Dancers are described as almost having sex on the dance floor.
- Characters discuss wanting to sleep with others.
- Three male characters are described as having homosexual urges.
- One male character reveals that he is gay and "in love" with another character.
- The Shadowhunters are tasked with killing demons.
- Numerous battle scenes include very graphic depictions of blood, dismemberment, torture and death.
- Weapons include daggers, swords, arrows, axes and miscellaneous mythical tools.
- Child sacrifice is discussed.
- Werewolves, vampires and other Downworlders--half-human/half-demon--battle ferociously.
- Demon possession leads to a grotesque end for one character.
- Ecstasy and "packets of powder" are featured in a party scene.
- Another party scene features a champagne fountain.
- Characters talk about smoking cigarettes and sometimes "smell of wine".
- One underage character "wobbles" at a party after drinking too much.
- Vampires are described as drinking Bloody Marys made with vodka and real animal blood.
Race Issues
- The chief villain is a Shadowhunter who wants to maintain the "pure human race" by killing all Downworlders.
- Demons are explained as evil coming from beyond to invade this world and others.
- Shadowhunters, the demon killers, are "Nephilim" who are offspring of humans and angels.
- The offspring of humans and demons are "Downworlders" and include vampires, werewolves, faeries, mermaids and others.
- A neighbor runs a business as a "prophetess and seeress" and uses tarot cards and crystals.
- The Shadowhunter's Institute is housed in an abandoned Catholic Cathedral.
- One character describes himself as being "born with the devil's mark to church-going parents".
- Hidden weapons to be used in the fight against demons are hidden in all houses of worship.
- Holy water is used to battle vampires.
- The main villain's last name is "Morgenstern" which is explained as meaning "Morning Star" and a reference to the fallen angel in the Bible, Lucifer, who became Satan.
- One main character mutters, "Mea Culpa" and explains that the phrase comes from the Latin Mass. When pressed he says, "I do not believe in sin. But I do believe in guilt."
- The same character declares, "There might be a God and there might not be. Either way we are on our own."
- The villain's desire for a pure human race (free of those who are half-human/half-demon) is compared to "those white power guys".
