Content Ratings are specific, objective criteria for judging a book’s content. The red, yellow and green stars are similar to what you see in a street light. Green means go; yellow means caution; red means stop, in this case, stop and think before reading. Our guidelines are specific enough that no matter who reviews a book, it will get the same color star.
General Indicators for a Red, Yellow or Green Star
Green: Similar to a G or mild PG rating. The book contains nothing deemed objectionable by the reviewer in that area.
Yellow: Caution. Similar to a standard PG-13 rating. A yellow star does not necessarily mean the book is not recommended, but rather that some readers may be offended by something in this area.
Red: Strong caution. Similar to a heavy PG-13 or stronger rating. In most cases, a book with a red star means that many LDS readers will be offended by the content.
Specific Area Indicators for a Red or Yellow Star
Language
- Yellow: Any swear word or use of the name of deity in a non-religious way.
- Red: Any word other than d— or h—; frequent use of any swear word; deity combined with a swear word; swearing for shock value only.
Violence
- Yellow: Real-time violence or any treatment of physical, emotional, sexual abuse.
- Red: Violence that is gratuitous, graphic and/or frequent.
Drugs/Alcohol
- Yellow: Any treatment of drugs or alcohol abuse, recreational use of illegal drugs or alcohol, or abuse of prescription drugs. Any treatment of addiction.
- Red: Themes that condone or promote the use of illegal drugs, the use of alcohol by minors, or related life-styles.
Immorality
- Yellow: Any treatment of pre-marital/extra-marital physical intimacy, rape, molestation, abuse or homosexuality. Treatment of physical intimacy as a “fun activity” rather than an expression of a committed, marital relationship.
- Red: Behaviors and attitudes of the protagonist(s) that conflict with traditional family values, such as messages that condone or promote pre-marital/extra-marital intimacy, homosexuality, violent or predatory sexuality, other abnormal or deviant sexual behavior. Descriptive, graphic and/or frequent.
Values/Themes
- Yellow: Messages or themes that deal with behaviors and attitudes that conflict with traditional family values or Christian ethics.
- Red: Any message or theme that condones or promotes behavior and attitudes that conflict with traditional family values or Christian ethics.
Writing Mechanics
- Yellow: Noticeable mistakes in grammar, spelling, plot, characterization, or other literary or structural problems that diminish or distract from the quality of the reading experience.
- Red: Frequent and noticeable mistakes in grammar, spelling, plot, characterization, or other literary or structural problems that diminish or distract from the quality of the reading experience.
Other—anything not covered above
- Yellow: Defined by reviewer.
- Red: Defined by reviewer.
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