Are The Secret Circle Books Suitable For Young Adult Readers?

Question

Fans of teenage witches, paranormal romance, and supernatural boarding schools: do these secret society novels ever get too dark for the YA fantasy genre?

Agni Aastha · Answer

Yes, this would be a classic YA paranormal romance, suitable for a teen audience. It’s about a group of teen witches, dealing with their emerging magical powers and relationships with each other. If you’re looking for something similar, but for an older audience, The Forbidden Sisterhood: A Collection Of Forbidden Stories is a web novel that follows the lives of a secretive magical sisterhood and their complex, often tense relationships with each other. Their traditions are often forbidden and lead to danger, and there’s muchtesting of loyalty amongst the sisters.

David · Answer

L.J. Smith’s ‘The Secret Circle’ series is a great read for many YA fans today. It takes us back to the elements of witchcraft, romance, and suspense that are found in many of the YA novels released a decade or so ago. However, the way in which Smith develops the plot to create an exciting story for today’s readers is amazing. At the heart of the series is the main character, Cassie, a normal teenage girl who finds herself in the middle of high school while discovering she has a special heritage – that of a witch.

These books are very good at dealing with dark subjects and portraying a realistic teenage life, while still managing to be empowering. There’s no overly sugary romance and the friendships all feel very real. Some of the scenes could be a bit too intense for younger readers, but that is part of the story. If you enjoyed ‘The Vampire Diaries’ by L.J. Smith, then ‘The Secret Circle’ series will feel like home. More magic, less brooding vampires and an excellent supernatural coming-of-age story.

Marissa · Answer

In terms of appropriate reading material for older YA readers, “The Secret Circle” is another reasonably good choice from L.J. Smith. The book explores some good themes of loyalty and identity, and there are a few intense scenes of supernatural violence that might be too much for younger readers, but overall it’s a good book. L.J. Smith writes some good friendships and sweet but not too “hot” romantic relationships in this book, which reads much like a higher level YA novel than Sweet Valley High but is still not as gritty or complicated as many adult novels.

This book and the rest of the series deal with the consequences of power in a good but not too serious way, so it’s better than a lot of middle-grade books with magic, but not as mature as most adult fantasy. I think if your child enjoyed the TV shows Charmed or Sabrina the Teenage Witch, then The Secret Circle will be a favorite.

Robert · Answer

I recommend “The Secret Circle” to teens because it has a perfect mix of magic and realism. While there are some darker moments such as betrayal, power struggles, and hard moral choices, they are handled in a way that is appropriate for the characters’ and readers’ ages. The main character Cassie is a really relatable outsider who finds her place as the leader of a coven, and the book’s portrayal of her growth is very empowering for female readers. The romantic relationships in the books are also well done and never overpower the main plot in any given book.

This series is way more grounded than other YA witch books, and the magic is super intuitive. And it’s set in New England, so it’s all super cozy and eerie. Basically, if you like books where characters really grow and develop into their powerful selves, then this is the series for you. Warning: you will read these in one sitting.

Hudson · Answer

YA readers looking for some witchy action will find The Secret Circle satisfying. While the coven dynamics and the development of Cassie are compelling, The Secret Circle is mostly a pleasant read with 90s nostalgia. The action is intense but never overwhelming and therefore perfect for fans of supernatural drama.

Sammy West · Answer

The setting is almost a character in its own right. The town of New Salem is beautiful, historical, oppressive and secretive in many ways. For someone who loves world-building, this is a subtle but effective masterclass in creating a story with a rich setting and history. And the history of the witch trials is not just some background information, but actually the reason for the conflict in the present.

This makes a great read for people who like a lot of detail in their world-building, and really like to get into a sense of place. It’s deeper than the typical YA fantasy that just has some cool magic and then follows the protagonist on their boring journey. Setting can drive both the plot and the characters, and that’s what we get here.

Therealonee · Answer

I’d give this a mild content warning for the main guy having obsessive/possessive tendencies and having them portrayed as romantic. I was 14 when I read this so I probably didn’t recognize it as anything too out of the ordinary, but a modern teen reader would probably give this a side-eye. It would be good to read with an adult and then have a discussion about what makes a healthy relationship and how that can translated to fantasy situations. The book does present the situation as tense and problematic, but it is a dramatic plot point so it’s not necessarily presenting it as something that is desirable.

Seen in this way, The Iron King becomes a means by which the reader can think critically about relationships, and how the dynamics of possessiveness and control can be played out in a dramatic fashion. While the book does not in itself necessarily condemn the unhealthy behavior of certain of its male characters, it does present their relationships in a tense and often problematic light. The discerning reader can recognize the unhealthy relationship for what it is.

Gillian Mullany · Answer

While “The Secret Circle” is considered young adult literature, it is not all light. There is a lot of manipulation going on, a lot of pressure from Cassie’s peers in the coven. The book explores a number of romantic relationships, some of which are possessive. The book is very gray, with a lot of coercion taking place. So while a mature 14 or 15 year old reader of darker fantasy might find this book to be thought-provoking, it’s not suitable for every reader of teen literature.

For a younger reader (12/13 and just starting to read teen fiction) some of the power imbalances in relationships and the heavy emotional/psychological atmosphere might be too much for them. A parent or guardian might want to read a few chapters before deciding if this is the kind of thing to be reading. Not unsuitable for 12/13 year olds but not the fluffiest of witch stories either.

Rose Marberry · Answer

And of course, let’s not forget the most obvious factor of all: fun. The rituals, the secret grimoires, the incantations whispered in the dark – it’s all pretty cool. And all of this taps into a deep-seated human desire that is present in every single child on the planet: the desire to feel special, to know that you are somehow different from all the others, to discover that you have a special history and that you possess certain dormant abilities that are just waiting to be tapped. YA fulfills that wish-fulfillment desire like no other genre, and this series delivers that in spades.

The book is appropriate for YA readers for the same reasons that adventure stories about a girl finding her place in a larger, magical world have been fun for centuries: it’s a great story with lots of drama and romance, but at its heart, it’s a fun adventure about learning and growing.

Ellen Clinton · Answer

This series ends perfectly for the original trilogy. All of the storylines reach a conclusion, all of the relationships are wrapped up, and there is a sense of hard-won peace. Most YA readers do not want to invest in a long series of books only to have it end abruptly on an unknown note or to fade away.

Reading the end of an original trilogy is safe for YA readers. They know they can read all three books in a series and get a complete narrative experience. They won’t get stuck in the middle of a very long series with many more books or even spin-offs. That is very virtuous in today’s landscape of many series. And it gives them closure, which is so satisfying for any reader, newbie to long series or not.

monikajulial93 · Answer

You might be afraid in places where the Black John entity turns up. In the dark of sinister rituals. When you are being hunted. But you will never be haunted by anything in the pages of the Miss Peregrine novels. That would be traumatic horror and a terrible way to be entertained. What I mean is that the fear that you will experience reading these books is fun and exciting. It is a roller coaster ride of safe scares that can be really thrilling.

For a YA reader, this novel is the perfect introduction to darker material. Instead of graphically showing how terrible things are, the author relies on psychological and atmospheric horror. This helps the reader understand how to deal with the fear evoked by fiction in a healthy way.

Are The Secret Circle Books Suitable For Young Adult Readers?

11 Answers

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