Comments on: Parental Guidance Needed

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:08:57 +0000

Absolutely glad that you are are aware of what your child is interested in reading. Just the pages of this blog alone will tell that there are too few parents aware of their children’s actions.
Obviously, the fact that it is a kids book does NOT make it automatically a good or bad choice for your individual child.
You know your child best and clearly have a genuine regard for her. Children who have that kind of support have a great advantage.
Perhaps flip through the book at a store to see what you think, given what you know about your kid. Many parents get two copies of books and read simultaneously what their kids are reading or do a parent child book club (yes, this is more popular with girls than boys).

By: OccupyDCAD

OccupyDCAD — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:16:57 +0000

It is a freaking kids book! I read much worse when i was 11 thirty years ago. I read all of the books that my two middle schoolers read.

Of course the theme of the series is that war is terrible and that there is little difference between the “good” guys and the “bad” guys. The series does devolve into less fun and more disturbing imagery over the course of the novels. HG is great, CF good and MJ just ok IMHO.

By: Laura Ingalls

Laura Ingalls — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:45:32 +0000

I am the mother of 3 grown children. My middle daughter was born ready. She would have devoured those books at 11 and acted out different scenes. She went to 4 week camp at age 10 and never looked back. My other 2 would have had nightmares for weeks. They barely made it to a 1 week day camp. We’re all different. So my advice, since you’re asking, is for you to read it first. You know her best. If you think she’ll enjoy the books then by all means encourage her to read. I read them all. Loved them, but they were disturbing. Especially the third one. And I also think that an 11 year old still needs that helicopter to hover. On another note I love your paper (I’ve subscribed for years) and the blog. Two different perspectives. Great job.

By: mismom

mismom — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:05:24 +0000

My 6th grader read it, devoured all three volumes. It’s been ordered by a 7th grade teacher as a required reading, too. My kid loved it -action packed. i dont think its any different than reading Harry Potter. Discuss or better yet, read it with your kids. However, the MIS/HPMS library will NOT allow 5th and 6th kids to check it out from the library.

ps I am a total helicopter!

By: Avid Reader

Avid Reader — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:14:39 +0000

Agree with Thufir (bigger fan of Miles Teg, but Thufir is legit). It’s a book. They are exposed to more “inappropriate” material than you can shake a stick at in a dumb Saturday morning kids show ie: See Katy Perry on Sesamie Street.

By: thufir_hawat

thufir_hawat — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:42:19 +0000

It’s a tough call. But maybe she would be better off reading something like Hansel & Gretel (child abandonment, kidnapping, murder), Seven Chinese Brothers (death, capital punishment), Peter Pan (murder, faerie orgies), Old Yeller (rabies, euthanasia), Bridge to Terabithia (love, domestic violence, death), Little House on the Prairie (Pa, Ma and that mime that raped Sylvia), or something by Judy Blume (just about everything you might be scared of).

Land the helicopter already.

By: Avid Reader

Avid Reader — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:29:35 +0000

Would let my 9 year old read the book if they wanted whether or not they were “mature” or not.

By: anon

anon — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:10:21 +0000

My almost-11 year old read it. Usually, we helicopter check out the reviews, but didn’t this time. We trustingly asked her last night if it was appropriate. She responded that it was ok … that “there was a little kissing in it”.

It is incredibly hard to find age-appropriate, but yet challenging interesting reading for the tweens.