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Trigger warnings
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
“A free-wheeling vehicle . . . an unforgettable ride!”— The New York Times Cat’s Cradle is Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical commentary on modern man and his madness. An apocalyptic tale of this planet’s ultimate fate, it features a midget as the protagonist, a complete, original theology created by a calypso singer, and a vision of the future that is at once blackly fatalistic and hilariously funny. A book that left an indelible mark on an entire generation of readers, Cat’s Cradle is one of the twentieth century’s most important works—and Vonnegut at his very best. “[Vonnegut is] an unimitative and inimitable social satirist.”— Harper’s Magazine “Our finest black-humorist . . . We laugh in self-defense.”— Atlantic Monthly
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Is Cat's Cradle: A Novel appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This darkly satirical novel features apocalyptic themes, mass death scenarios, philosophical existential content, and Vonnegut's signature black humor. While not graphically violent or sexually explicit, the mature themes and bleak worldview are best suited for older teens and adults.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include genocide, death, and mass death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens who enjoy thought-provoking satire and dark humor about humanity's capacity for self-destruction will find this inventive and unforgettable.