Inappropriate reading book (in my opinion)

bigmomma051204

bylromarha wrote: »

Primary school teacher here as well, who has read the book and loved the series and has a Year 6 gifted reader for a son.

I'd have issue if the school gave him this book to read as it is quite emotionally challenging and as a 10 year old boy who loves Minecraft, he just isn't there and would not get the book. Which I don't think is dissimilar to most 10 year old boys.

I challenged son's teacher when son was in year 1 on the book he was given for his reading book. It was all about segregation, Rosa Parks and Ku Klux Klan. That was fun talking a 5 year old through that - I never thought that saying " Why not read your reading book while I sort out your sister?" would cause as many issues as it did! It scared me when the teacher (who was on the Senior Management team of the school) said "but it's the next book on the list - well I suppose he can miss one" - he moved school pretty soon after...

I would not give this book to a class of Year 6 to read - if a child chose to read it, fair enough, but the majority of a class would not be emotionally ready to cope with the themes and story of the books.

If your daughter nor you is comfortable with the text, then you are allowed to be the parent and ask for her not to read it. It's the sort of thing I would make a stand on TBH. But I have a real thing about "Just because a child can read the text, doesn't mean the book is suitable" - the amount of books which have been recommended to my son by bookshops and librarians through the years that have been totally inappropriate content wise scares me.

Absolutely agree with this post!!

My son is 10years (also a Minecrafter...) and he would not have a CLUE about most of the topics which OP has stated further down on the thread... rape, abortion, sex scenes :cool: He is at about the stage where they talk about the word "sex" but aren't really sure what it involves - and surely this is right?!

Just because some children are over-sexualised, does that mean that we as parents simply have to accept it and thrust our children into that World? I am not molly-coddling my son, but do I feel that I need to make him read books about rape and abortion because "thats what happens in the real world"...? Erm, no!

God, perhaps its time to tell him to put down the Enid Blyton "Mysteries" books and the "Superhero comics" and move him onto War and Peace...... :cool:

I agree with the other poster (sorry can't remember who!) who said that just because my son CAN read something, doesn't mean he SHOULD - again, 50 Shades of Grey is written in an easy to read style - perhaps I should get him a copy of that

bigmomma051204

And another thing

I personally read a LOT. I love to read and always have. And my feeling is that often, a book's subject matter can cause a lot more emotional reaction and influence feelings FAR more than a film can.

Would we be accepting showing a film which visually depicts sexual scenes, openly talks about and/or shows rape scenes and broaches the subject of abortion - To 10/11year olds?

iammumtoone

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

And another thing

I personally read a LOT. I love to read and always have. And my feeling is that often, a book's subject matter can cause a lot more emotional reaction and influence feelings FAR more than a film can.

Would we be accepting showing a film which visually depicts sexual scenes, openly talks about and/or shows rape scenes and broaches the subject of abortion - To 10/11year olds?

That is true and a very interesting point.

As some who used to read a lot I am feel the same about reading v watching films, however I wonder if this is the same for a say 15 year who the book is aimed at? At 15 do you have same ability as an adult to visualise and immerse yourself in the story as an adult. If they do then surely books should follow classification that follows the same rules as films.

adea

iammumtoone wrote: »

Perhaps I worded the question badly I meant is the book new/unused as is this the first year to have read it, have the school have just purchased the books?

If not I find it hard to believe than none of the parents who children have read it previously at the school have not raised concerns.

As a side point at GCSE level it does appear to be a very good book for children to read, I do believe children should read books that reflect what real life can be like - just not at 10 years old.

The books are brand new. My other daughter, who attended the same school, is 2 years above her sister and did not have anything like this.

barbarawright

It's a while since I read Noughts and Crosses but I'm struggling to remember anything about rape and abortion in it.

missbiggles1

iammumtoone wrote: »

That is true and a very interesting point.

As some who used to read a lot I am feel the same about reading v watching films, however I wonder if this is the same for a say 15 year who the book is aimed at? At 15 do you have same ability as an adult to visualise and immerse yourself in the story as an adult. If they do they surely there should be a re-classification of books that follows the same rules as films.

That sound downright fascistic!

iammumtoone

adea wrote: »

The books are brand new. My other daughter, who attended the same school, is 2 years above her sister and did not have anything like this.

Then I certainly think you should be raising concerns with the head. Something seems to have gone wrong with the vetting process which determines what material is suitable to use to support the themes the children are learning.

iammumtoone

missbiggles1 wrote: »

That sound downright fascistic!

Why I am not proposing a law that states children cannot read books/watch films above their age level, they are guidelines, which parents are free to ignore if they wish. What it would insure is that it would be down to the parents to decide what they think is suitable for their children not anyone else.

I haven't actually read the book (I am now thinking maybe I should)

pandora205

Just checking the recommendations of various retailers and establishments for the book:
The Books Trust (charity that promotes reading) lists it as number 2 in their best 100 books for 12-14 year olds
Amazon's description suggests age 11 and over
Guardian review suggests 12+
Teachers on TES English Forum felt it was suitable for secondary not primary
Description of the box set on Scholastic site indicates that the books contain mature content
Amnesty International indicates suitable for 11+ (interesting that they have reviewed it)
Its on numerous schools recommended reading for KS3, alongside others such as Watership Down, and the His Dark Materials trilogy (Northern Lights, etc.)

Personally I think it it too edgy for most 11 year olds. It's misleading to see the sexual references as the most concerning though, as the book portrays a society in which prejudice is rife and violence is the consequence in a very powerful way. This is an emotional read even for older students but certainly raises a whole raft of social issues.

iammumtoone

If the book was made into a film, what classification do those who have read it think it would have?

Like bigmomma and I said to us a book is far more powerful than a film, but to a child I am not sure if this is the case especially a child of 12-13 a film would probably have a more lasting effect on them.