Ratings For Books? Yes!

Occasionally, I’m asked if books have a rating system, like films. We all know that reader audiences are defied mostly by age group, but there’s not really a well-known content rating system for books, like there is for film, television, and video games. So I decided to do some research on the question.

The film rating system works like this, and this is a good general guide for writing books, as well.

G = general audiences, all ages.
PG = parental guidance suggested, some material may not be suitable for children
PG-13 = parents are strongly cautioned; some material may be inappropriate for children under age 13
R = restricted, children under age 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian
NC-17 = no children under age 17 admitted

However, it doesn’t really speak to specific content. So, I did some digging and was surprised at how little I found. There isn't a “required industry standard” system; but I did find a group that is working to help clarify the answer, if you’re curious.

Check out the nifty book rating community I discovered at My Book Cave. Their website states, “My Book Ratings is free for everyone to use or to rate books. This database is for the community by the community. Please join the effort! To maintain the quality of our community ratings, you do need to log in to rate books.”

The information I found on this site was extremely helpful. They do an excellent job of providing guidelines for rating books for readers based on content. Their rating system allows regular readers to rate books based on content, so you always know what you're about to read. Their ratings include All Ages, Mild, Mild Plus, Moderate, Moderate Plus, Adult, and Adult Plus.

ALL

No swearing or use of deity as a swear word (dang, darn, and other substitutes okay)
May contain minimal crude humor appropriate for young children and up
No descriptions of nudity
No sex or talking about sex
No kissing (except a quick peck or two)
May contain minimal violence or horror
May contain minimal discrimination or bullying
No drug, alcohol, or tobacco use by minors
May contain small mention of alcohol and tobacco use by adults

MILD

No swearing or use of deity as a swear word (dang, darn, and other substitutes okay)
May contain mild crude humor appropriate for preteens and up
No sex, or talking about having sex
May contain mild kissing
May contain brief description of non-sexual nudity
May contain brief violence or bullying (non-sexual)
No drug, alcohol, or tobacco use by minors
May contain mild use of drug, alcohol, or tobacco by adults

MILD+

May contain up to 10 mild swear words (no f-bombs)
May contain mild crude humor
May contain mild, non-seductive talk about intimacy or mention of past sexual relationship
May contain passionate kissing
May contain brief description of nudity
May contain moderate violence
No drug, alcohol, or tobacco use by minors unless it's minor usage in a negative light
May contain average mention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use by adults

MODERATE

May contain up to a total of 40 swear words (no f-bombs)
May contain moderate crude humor appropriate for teens
May contain passionate kissing
May contain non-graphic discussion about intimacy (label will state if it's discussion or the implied love scenes below)
May contain implied closed-door or fade-out love scenes (no details/naming of intimate body parts)
May contain some references to nudity
May contain significant violence
May contain moderate drug, alcohol, or tobacco use by adults and some use by minors

MODERATE +

May contain up to 100 swears
May contain moderate crude humor
May contain passionate and extended kissing
May contain discussion of sexual intimacy that includes some details (see below)
May contain closed-door, interrupted, or fade-out love scenes with mild details (taking off clothes, mention of breasts, etc.)
May contain some descriptions of nudity
May contain significant violence
May contain drug, alcohol, or tobacco use

ADULT

May contain significant profanity (101-200 or 200-500; label will state which)
May contain significant crude humor
May contain passionate and extended kissing
May contain one to three onscreen semi-detailed or detailed love scenes (label will state which)
May also contain additional fade-out intimacy scenes
May contain graphic descriptions of nudity
May contain extended and gruesome violence
May contain significant drug, alcohol or tobacco use

ADULT +

May contain extensive profanity (501+)
May contain extensive graphic and crude language
May contain passionate and extended kissing
May contain extensive and graphic descriptions of nudity
May contain repeated and graphic erotic love scenes
May contain graphic BDSM
May contain sex with simultaneous partners
May contain extended, gruesome, and depraved violence
May contain extensive drug, alcohol or tobacco use

There may be other resources out there that provide similar information, but this was the most concise one I could find. I’ve love their definitions and explanations listed on their ratings website; and moving forward, I’m going to include this rating system and their icons in all my books and marketing materials, as well as recommend that the authors I help publish do so, as well. When accessibility is key to building a readership, it is in an author’s best interest to help readers identify content – especially if you want readers to recommend your books or give them as gifts.

Please visit the site at https://mybookcave.com/mybookratings/meet-the-ratings/?ref=4ltrkd7hu3 for a greater understanding of their rating parameters and methodologies.

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