“It’s aimed at kids...”
I totally disagree. While the characters are mostly teenaged, the work itself is simply good fiction. I’m 56 and totally enjoyed the story.
And while I agree with your description of the theme being about individual freedom, since reading the trilogy I have often wondered if the author intended that, or was she just writing about good guys and bad guys and it happen to fall out that way — not that it is relevant to you and me and how we interpret the story. Again, I’m just curious as to whether she intended to write “Lord of the Flies” or was she writing “Twilight” and stumbled into something more worthy.
My point was just to let the adults here know that the book is through the eyes of a 16-17 yr old girl. Yes, it is very much a good read for adults, as well.
I thought the writing was simpler (no bad) than books aimed at adults, and there is no profane language. Sex is only discussed matter-a-factly, not graphicly, e.g. “He was sold to the highest bidder to satisfy their appetites...”