After looking around, I found a surprising number of comments like this. I'm not sure I understand entirely how the literary worth of a piece can be judged by the content of 30 pages, especially when the reader can't look past controversial subjects. There are a lot of books out there with worse language and teenagers doing "adult" things that have been celebrated for their themes and messages. I'm not saying this book would be categorized with these, I just think that a book can't be deemed "bad" because of a few swear words and some drinking.

Oh, it wasn't bad,it was horrifying. It was the worst use of foul language I have EVER heard. And it wasn't just a few swear words, it was a plethora on each and every page. There is no need to use so profanity, especially in a YA novel. In so many forms I've never heard of or imagined used in that manner. And just because "some" teenagers indulge in that type of behavior doesn't mean that all do, or even most. And to put it in print like this, and how explicit things are on TV just make this sort of actions seem okay, and normal. Not the way I want to bring up my kids.

And I would like to point out again, this would be at least R rated as a movie. Teens wouldn't be ABLE to go watch it without an adult. Then why is it okay to sell it as written for the teen generation?

I first read this book when I was fourteen and loved it. You have to look past the langauge and the habits. They are there to set the mood. They show us what kind of life the main character has experienced. If you find this book bad then I don't know what you've been reading. Alot of YA books have alot more contrivetial then this one. Also the beginning has the "foul langauge" but it resides later into the book. If you only read 30 pages I don't think you can fairly judge this book. I, personally, really loved this book and I didn't find anything in it I hadn't seen before in our world. Teenages today are exposed to alot more then most people resise. Nothing in this book offended me of made me really squirm at all.

oh for gods sake have a cry. so what if it has f**k in it? like you've never heard that word before? your complaining because the book HINTS at sexually activity in teenagers. you've got to be kidding. i loved tithe, it was an amazing book and i loved the characters. I dont think it even comes close to being R rated, maybe you should stop over reacting to everything. and by the way, your kids will eventually hear about smoking and drinking, and yes, *shudders* sex. better they come to you with questions after reading tithe than randoms.

While I don't think 'Tithe' represents the best written YA novel available I do think the portrayal of sex and the use of language is consistant with the character portrayals. It is shown that Kaye has been exposed to bars, alcohol and lower-income adult nightlife for a long time, her attitude and actions reflect this. Janet and Corny's experience (while poorly written) is similarly accurate.

So, while the writing may give the impression of caricature, for many teens it is reasonably accurate. The novel has its own faults (of note is the erratic pacing), there is no need to invent more.

Oh my, sex, drugs and smoking!
Most teenagers do worse than this daily.
I should know, I'm a teenager, and I've been exposed to worse at HIGH SCHOOL. There is nothing wrong with this book, and if ever had children, I'd have no problem with them reading this book.

Ha! As someone who was in high school (in New Jersey, at that!) right when this book came out, I can tell you that this book was a stunningly accurate reflection of the social mores of most teenagers at the time. Can't really speak for "kids today" but I can't imagine that anything's changed very much.

If you really don't want your kids exposed to drinking, swearing, or sex, don't send them to high school. Just keep them sealed off in a box somewhere and they'll be fine.

I agree with basically every other comment on here. Especially the first one. Just because it has some "offensive" material does not mean it is trash. It is people like you that cause books to be banned.

i agree with the objection. the mood can be set with less vulgarity by someone with any talent. and just because something is true doesn't mean it is appropriate to write about it nor does it make something "literary". rape happens all the time, but that doesn't make it appropriate to write about it in excruciating detail. in fact, to do so would be insulting to any rape survivor. by the same token, the characters in this book are an insult to teens and adults. furthermore, a book doesn't have to be accepted just because it's been written. the whole point is to read books that are well written and enjoyable; this book is neither.

Well I have read this book and I have to say that yes it does have very strong language and yes some things in the book are questionable for a young adult audience but let's get in the real world: even if some teens don't participate in such radical behaviors, they witness it on a daily basis. If it's not smoking its drinking, if it's not profanity it's raunchy behavior. Teens see at least One of these a day. I am 16 and I am a good teenager (I don't partake in drug or alcohol or sexual experimentations most teens explore) and I am still exposed to all these things all the time.

And as with only finishing the first 30 pages of the book then calling it off, you should know it is our obligation as a reader to remain openminded and malleable to the author's message in his or her book. If we neglect this duty by not giving the author the chance to explain themselves with the remainder of the book, then who are we to judge them on incomplete, opinionated assumptions on what their book could have been. You can't know if the book was trash or not because you did not read it. Your claim is not justified and is flawed as well as unsound due to your irrational, almost narrow-minded approach to it's contents.

Kayli wrote: "After looking around, I found a surprising number of comments like this. I'm not sure I understand entirely how the literary worth of a piece can be judged by the content of 30 pages, especially wh..."

That's true. I'm 14 and I can get over the swear words because Holly Black is an AMAZING writer and I love her books. My mum has read the book, and she liked it too. You can't be put off the book, 30 paghes in, because of the words it uses, you should look at the content and the talents of the writer and -like many have said- be open minded. Kaye, the protagonist- has purposefully grown up in an environment where things like that are acceptable, and THAT is what Holly Black is trying to show.
She doesn't just put things in like that because she wants too ;)

Thank you for your honest rating of this book. I thought I'd like to read it, but after reading your comments, I won't bother!

I'm just curious in what high school could you have gone when there was not swear words, drinking, drugs, and sex? Because my high school was full of it. All high schools are full of it... I went to both public and a catholic private and I did not find any of the above lacking in either.

I agree with your review. I found it an unenjoyable read and was deterred in the first 15 pages. There are many other books out there with inspiring and uplifting messages and I'd rather invest my time into those. I'm 17.

30 pages? That hardly allows you to write a quality or informed review. Life is tough, life is swearing, life is not always cotton balls and sunshine and certainly not always happy endings (although this was a rather happy ending for the characters). If you can't handle that don't read the book and certainly don't bash it based on a measly 30 pages.

I read this at15, twice. I still love it. It's fantastic and I adore everything Holly Black writes, this was the book that started it. Language helps create characters Kaye would not be Kaye if she curved it, the book would be lessened and the conflicts dulled. It's real it portrays a human characteristic that is real, that you will encounter and that you can not censor. You can choose what is worth reading in your opinion but you can't squash the personalities that exist around you. Good writing mimics life in all it's faults. There's nothing more I hate in writing then happy go lucky Mary Sue characters with silly, little problems like which boy to date.

Books are personalities and extensions of their creator. They weren't created to please your 'ideals' and ideas of censorship. They were created to expand narrow minds and to fulfill the author's desire to create their art and present it in the hopes some people, not all would enjoy love and appreciate it the way they do.

If you only read 30 pages, you have no right to judge. There isn't swearing on every page, I know, because I've read every page. I didn't like the book because I was bored out of my mind, but when I was a teenager, I read stuff a lot worse then this and I turned out fine.
I find Twilight more offensive then this book.

I am reading tithe at the moment and Isn't it about the story rather then a few swear words because I thought this book would be amazing if it had Faye in it so don't let teens smoking put you off and you've only read 30 pages that's not really starting the story yet.

These first time I read this book, I was sixteen. To someone on the outside looking in perhaps the language/drinking/cursing seems excessive. But when you are that age, even if that's not the scene you are a part of, you are still surrounded by it. Other kids are doing it, because the media is telling that age group that it makes it them seem older, seem cool. Especially kids from a small town, from low income or possibly unstable families.Like the kids in these books. It made the characters seem real, like Kaye or Janet could have been any other girl that went to my high school, who got looked down on because she lived in a trailer, because she didn't know her dad, because she looked different, because everyone called her white trash. So yes, maybe it was excessive. But you have to look at it through the lens of the age group it is written for.

All I would like to say is...

You had stated that its not how you would want to raise your kids.. And thats fine and all but, no one is asking you to. You should trust that your raised them well enough that their judgement wouldn't be changed by one book. Sheltering them from things that actually occur, like teen raves, teen sex, and drinking. Thats just foolish.
I'm 17, and this book did NOT make me want to go get raped by a guy with thorns, or get drunk in an abandoned building. However, I did think the author may have been trying way to hard to appeal to the out-casted teens who can relate to some of the things Kaye faced.

I'm on page 105 and I feel like I've only seen the "F" word five maybe six times. That's not really a plethora. Try reading Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. And if you pull yourself into the decade you'll realize drinking, smoking and having sex is something teens do A LOT. Your kids are already exposed to this and reading about it is not going to make them run out and do it. And God forbid a seventeen year old drinks a beer. There are worse things in this world.

Wow, people are really beating this review about the head, aren't they?

I'm puzzled by the fact that you all hopped in here to tell the reviewer she is "wrong" and "can't express her opinion"! Come now, people. Opinions aren't wrong; that's why they're opinions and not facts. I can't be the only person on Goodreads who believes in free speech.

And yes, I agree with Amber on a number of points. Sometimes a book is just too disgusting to keep reading--in my opinion, of course. You don't need to live under a rock to be offended by vulgar behavior. If you aren't, then fine--go ahead and write your reviews, praise it to your heart's content.

If everyone held Amber's opinions, the world would be a much better place. Stop whacking her over the head for it...please?

Quite honestly, if you are naive enough to think that at least most teenagers indulge in activity similar to that which you found so revolting, you are in for a rude awakening. Wake up lady, and open your eyes to the issues that are very real today. I'm not saying this to be rude, but need a reality check.

Wow, why is everyone being so mean to this reviewer? Seriously, people, there's this thing called "bullying," and I think you're doing it now.

Disgust at the human race aside....

I agree with this review, and I happened to find it very helpful. If a writer wants to write a book about smoking, drinking teens who cuss like sailors, then I'd say go ahead, free speech and all that. BUT I do not want to read about that in a paranormal romance. I find teens who spend their lives partying and sleeping around make me sad, and I'd rather not read a book that glorifies that empty lifestyle. So, thank you, Ms. Baker, for your review.

P.S.: Jacque, if you didn't say what you said to be rude, why didn't you say it less rudely? Just sayin'.

I hardly call these comments "bullying." People have a point -- if you only read 30 pages of a 331-page book, then you really don't have any place to judge its merit just because you don't like the fact that you're reading about teenagers doing teenager-y things.

Danielle wrote: "Wow, why is everyone being so mean to this reviewer? Seriously, people, there's this thing called "bullying," and I think you're doing it now.

Disgust at the human race aside....

I agree with th..."

THANK YOU!! XD

It's her opinion and her review space, guys. It's not like snapping at her about it is going to make her come on Goodreads and erase it because it annoyed you. Instead, try easing up and use your letters for praising the book in your own review space if you enjoyed it, because believe me, we'll all be happier for it.

Angelica wrote: "I hardly call these comments "bullying." People have a point -- if you only read 30 pages of a 331-page book, then you really don't have any place to judge its merit just because you don't like the..."

I disagree. If a book is so bad you can't bring yourself to read more than 30 pages, then isn't it a sign that the the book has no merits?

And why do people never consider bullying behaviors (namecalling, ganging up on someone, etc.) Bullying when they agree with what the bullies are saying? Call a spade a spade and respect a woman's right to free speech.

I kind if agree and disagree with you. It's not like a teenager would have never heard of anything in the book, but there were amazing amounts of swearing in the book. Most of it is in the first 70 pages. It wasn't a very pleasant book though.