Such a Fun Age – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Such a Fun Age

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

88%

WISE Score

4.1

Amazon

A sharp, addictive, and deeply uncomfortable look at what happens when 'woke' intentions go horribly sideways in the suburbs.

Such a Fun Age

book

2019

88%

WISE Score

4.1

Amazon

A sharp, addictive, and deeply uncomfortable look at what happens when 'woke' intentions go horribly sideways in the suburbs.

4.1

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Screenwise Verdict

Kiley Reid’s debut is basically a survival guide for navigating the awkwardness of modern race and class relations. It’s not a 'feel-good' book in the traditional sense, but it’s incredibly satisfying because it refuses to give anyone an easy way out.

It’s the kind of story that stays with you because you’ll start seeing the characters' behaviors in the people around you (or, let’s be real, in yourself). If you want something that sparks a real conversation without being a total drag, this is it.

Age Fit

This is an adult novel, but it's a perfect fit for high schoolers (16+) who are starting to navigate complex social environments and identity politics. It’s a great 'bridge' book for teens moving into adult fiction.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The bond between the protagonist, Emira, and the toddler she babysits, Briar, is genuinely sweet and grounded. However, the surrounding adult world is messy, filled with performative behavior and social climbing.

Imaginative

While it's contemporary realism, the dialogue is incredibly sharp and the social observations are clever. It doesn't build worlds, but it deconstructs our own with impressive precision.

Safe

As an adult novel, it contains mature language and some sexual references, but nothing gratuitous. The 'danger' here is the emotional weight of racial profiling and social manipulation.

Enriching

This is a masterclass in understanding modern microaggressions, class dynamics, and the difference between genuine support and performative allyship. It's a huge empathy builder.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It nails the specific brand of 'well-meaning' white saviorism that's rampant in modern social media culture.
The dialogue feels like a real conversation you'd overhear at a coffee shop, not a scripted lecture.
It moves fast—it's a 'literary' book that actually reads like a thriller.
The relationship between Emira and Briar provides a necessary heart to an otherwise cynical social landscape.

⚠

What to Watch For

The central inciting incident involves a Black woman being racially profiled while holding a white child, which can be upsetting.
It explores the 'cringe' of Millennial and Gen X social dynamics, which might feel a bit close to home for some parents.
Adult themes including relationship drama, drinking, and career anxiety.

Conversation Starters

"Do you think Alix actually cared about Emira, or was she just obsessed with how Emira made her feel about herself?"
"Why did the security guard in the grocery store assume the worst, and how did the bystanders make it better or worse?"
"What's the difference between being a 'good person' and just wanting to look like one on the internet?"

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