Inappropriate reading book (in my opinion)

Jagraf

GlasweJen wrote: »

I just don't get it, learning that bad things happen won't take innocence away from a child.

As a child Nana had a number written in pen on her arm. When I was about 4 I asked why it didn't wash off and was told a bad man wrote it there forever. Then when I was about 6 we talked about the holocaust at Yom Kippur, I wasn't any less a 6 year old having learned about it.

I shared my room with a big sister so I found out about periods not long after that, and mum left a book about puberty out for me to read when I was 7. Sister filled me in about sex not long after - again I was still a 7 year old.

Learning about "real life" doesn't stop you from being a child. Thankfully I'm white and never experienced racist bullying but the Chinese kid in my class did, does that make him "too street wise", I'd say no.

Precisely, in fact, the younger you learn something the more questions you are likely to ask your parents so that they can add their own views and explanations. By 12 or 13 teens don't tend to want to ask.

seven-day-weekend

I too was reading adult-themed books of my mother's when I was a child. Things like The Grapes of Wrath, The Forsyte Saga and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Most of the adult themes went over my head until I read them again when I was an adult.

However, explicit abusive sex I really think is best left until they understand about consensual sex within a loving relationship. (I know there is a rape in The Forsyte Saga, but it is not explicitly written and I didn't actually understand it was rape until I was older - I thought he had just been rough with her).

However, if I ever asked my mum about anything I didn't understand, she would always explain to the level of my understanding. I think this is what we should all do.

When I was a parent myself, our son was really into Science Fiction and Fantasy and would read these books with our monitoring. He was not allowed to watch Grange Hill or Dallas on the TV.

Ames

Ooops I've just realised I read book four thinking it was book three. So now that I'm reading book three I know the ending. Oh well.

SDW - unless it's in book three, there's no abusive sex in the Malorie Blackman books.

KxMx

I read quite a few Virginia Andrews as a young teen.

Didn't give them up because of the deviant sexual themes, I just got bored that she re-packaged those same themes over and over with little new content :rotfl:

HMarriage

Hi,

Just reading some of the previous posts, I truly think that all children, no matter what emotional/educational ability, will have their eyes opened naturally over time. It may be that they will sit down with their parents and watch something on the news, they may see newspaper headlines in shops, overhear things in public, friends with older siblings may introduce new things in to conversation...their brains will start ticking and there will, or should, be a steady realisation that everything isn't hunky-dory at points.

I think that the subjects mentioned in the book should be taken at the individual child's pace, at a speed they are comfortable with and most importantly in their own time.

We all get there in the end - as adults we all know about these topics and I think that if elements in a book do concern you as a parent and your child is uncomfortable with it, then they should stop reading it for now. No doubt a little while down the road they will pick it up again as and when they want to, not when they are told to. x

barbarawright

Ames wrote: »

Ooops I've just realised I read book four thinking it was book three. So now that I'm reading book three I know the ending. Oh well.

SDW - unless it's in book three, there's no abusive sex in the Malorie Blackman books.

THis has baffled me too. It's a while since I've read them but I don't remember any abusive sex either

meritaten

Jagraf wrote: »

What is your take on, say, GCSE English literature? Books are pulled apart to the point of exhaustion. Should we make literature an option in schools rather than a core subject? (Honest question)

Honest answer? I thought the book in question would be ideal for GCSE Eng Lit.
mainly because there are so many issues! and interpretations of the text and issues.

I have read back some pages and cant help noticing that many of you who think its a good thing that children are not wrapped in cotton wool - you actually cite noticing something you didn't understand and ASKING parents/grandparents for clarification. a bit different from being handed a book you didn't understand and weren't ready for. I think if a child is not ready to learn the answer - they don't ask the question because it hasn't occurred to them.

you are making me think here! I think its that at primary age children should be encouraged to develop a 'love of reading'. reading challenging books is ok for some - but I believe it will put a lot of kids off.
While I don't believe in 'wrapping kids in bubble wrap' - I don't like to see 'adult' issues and values force fed them. Children have a right to grow up in their own time and in their own way!

carmina_piranha

*max* wrote: »

Having now read the book (and being halfway through the second one...), I'd have to say I don't think it's suitable for most 10 year olds. Not because they might be distressed by some of the scenes (btw, there is no rape!) but because they wouldn't have the maturity to understand the wider issues in the book, and so it would be "wasted" on them IMO. I think from 12/13 onwards would be more suitable, when they are able to understand the several issues brought up instead of focusing solely on a few scenes that might be more "adult", like a younger child might.

I remember Pride and Prejudice being 'wasted' on me the first time I read it - I just didn't 'get' it and couldn't understand why Elizabeth wanted to marry him. I read it again a few years later and loved it.

My mum read it at school as a reluctant reader and thought it was boring. She won't even watch an adaptation because she hated it so much at a young age. She doesn't even think there's any humour in it.

I wonder if the difference between us is that I was reading for pleasure whereas she was forced to read a book for school when she'd have been happier with something else.

I haven't read this book, but it sounds as if it would be more valuable at high school.

I don't know if I would want my child to read it next year (he's in year 5 now) but school let us know what the books will be so I could read it in advance and be ready to talk to him about any issues.

I remember being upset that my 6 year old was reading harry potter because I thought the dementors were too depressing for a child to read about, but his teacher was right saying that it wouldn't do him any damage. HP earlier books are quite safe and comforting though.