My grade 6 students have been busy putting together an epic fantasy story book that is suitable for a middle school readership. There are, however, some parts that sensitive readers may find disturbing so here is an advisory:

Note to Readers:
6-7 Yoshi Kingdom is a collaborative fantasy novel created by student writers. It contains themes of war, invasion, and moral consequence, along with scenes of fantasy violence and conflict. It is recommended for mature middle school and high school readers.

I should also add that this team had some problems overwriting their own work with AI-generated material and then stripping out the AI (after the teacher and fellow students commented on it) leaving some parts incomplete. Nevertheless, here is the final version of the book:

This is a collaboratively written, imaginative fantasy story with vivid action and world-building. However, it contains several elements that may be inappropriate for younger readers.

Content Notes (Areas of Concern)

1. Violence & Intensity

   • The story opens with a chaotic battle involving children fighting giant creatures, catapults, fireballs, and magical attacks.

   • Descriptions include: “ripped into pieces,” “flames burned the woods,” “explosives,” “bombs,” “crush the Double-Chins,” “cut you to bits,” “blood pooling,” and a character being kicked to death.

   • Violence is more frequent and intense than in typical middle-grade fantasy.

2. Themes of War, Betrayal & Moral Ambiguity

   • The plot revolves around invasion, conquest, greed, and rebellion.

   • Evil characters debate genocide (“Exterminate them”) and engage in ethnic cleansing metaphors (directed at fantasy creatures).

   • The tone is often bleak, with kingdoms destroyed, characters tortured, and a general atmosphere of despair and moral compromise.

3. Character Names & Potentially Offensive Labels

   • Some character names (e.g., “Baby-Fat,” “Double-Chins”) could be seen as body-shaming or derogatory.

   • The repeated use of “67” as a rallying cry for extermination may be unsettling for school children.

4. Complex & Dark Narrative Elements

   • Includes prison breaks, torture, forced labor, war crimes (burning fields, targeting civilians), and a protagonist who is an unrepentant invader.

   • Chapter 8 is particularly dark, with psychological tension, chase scenes, and themes of inescapable consequence.

5. Writing Style Variability

   • As a collaborative work, the tone shifts dramatically between chapters—from cartoonish action to grim war narrative to philosophical thriller. This inconsistency may confuse younger readers.

As a learning curve for the students, many of the issues listed here are likely due to the ineffective use of AI. If you are a student reading this, be aware that AI is a tool to use, not a replacement for your own creative voice.

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