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Not recommended
Content we'd steer families away from.
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- Ages
- 18–18
AI summary
Jaden, a seventeen-year-old trans boy, discovers he was kidnapped as a child after his father is arrested for forging his birth certificate. He must navigate his identity and decide between the father who raised him and his biological parents, who are still looking for the daughter they lost.
Parent notes
The book is built entirely around transgender identity and same-sex relationships, which directly contradicts traditional conservative Christian values regarding gender and sexuality. Parent concerns: Gender ideology / Transgenderism; Same-sex romantic relationship; Kidnapping theme; Criminality/Forgery theme Romance/sexual content: The book features a teenage protagonist (trans boy) with a boyfriend. While explicit descriptions aren't in the blurb, the normalization of same-sex dating and gender transition is central. Language: The summary does not list profanity, but the content focus makes it a non-issue for the target conservative demographic. Violence: Background mention of kidnapping and arrests. Substances: None mentioned in the summary. Worldview themes: Gender transition as a positive milestone, LGBTQ+ identity affirmation, Moral relativism regarding kidnapping and forgery
Why parents choose this book
What makes The Names We Buried worth choosing
An honest, parent-first look at who this book suits, what it offers, and what to know before you buy.
Best for
- Age range: 18–18.
- Reading maturity: Young adult — teen protagonists and more nuanced themes.
- Kids who tend to love it: readers ages 18–18 looking for a solid story.
- Personality fit: kids ages 18–18 who enjoy a good story.
Parents love this book because
- Written by Mia Siegert, whose books parents return to for consistently thoughtful storytelling.
Your child will probably enjoy The Names We Buried if they…
- Enjoy stories written for kids around ages 18–18
This book helps develop
Vocabulary, sustained attention, and reading confidence for the 18–18 age band.
Things parents should know
- Romance: hand-holding and light crushes, nothing more.
- Sexual content: essentially none.
Reading commitment
Why we recommend it
We don't broadly recommend The Names We Buried for the 18–18 age band; see the notes above before choosing. Mia Siegert's voice is what makes it stick: readable, respectful of kids, and easy to hand to the next child in the family.
Content ratings
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