Hunger Games for a 10 year old??!

[Takver]

So, dd came home from a secondary transition day today, "We went to look round the library, and I started reading this really exciting looking book, I want to get a copy so I can finish it" . . .

My feeling is that it is going to be too violent for a 10 year old & to put her off, but it'd be helpful to know from anyone who's read it themselves. DD reads Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl etc etc, but my impresssion is that Hunger games is a bit more hardcore?

[Takver]

Oh, and of course I got the inevitable

"But someone in my class is reading it"

"Who?"

"I can't exactly remember" . . .

[amck5700]

My now 11 year old son read it at 10 - and the next two :) - it does have violence in it but then that's the whole premise of the book that kids are sent in to kill each other. There is no sex or swearing as far as I can remember though obviously a bit of love interest in the main characters. Bit of drinking in that one of the characters is clearly an alcoholic but how much a child would pick up I am not sure.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Hmmm. I don't think I would let mine but lots of people do. I would worry that the violence would come across loud and clear but the point of the story might not. I don't know what kind of reader your DD is though!

[Themumsnot]

My 10 year old has read it. I don't have a problem with the violence - it is in the context of the story and the moral choices and issues are very much in the foreground. I would not stop her from reading it, but read it yourself as well so you can discuss it with her.

[weegiemum]

My 12yo dd1 and 10yo ds have read all 3 books. Yes there is violence but I read them first and we addressed it as they went through. To be honest, I'm impressed he liked it if he only started today as it's not exa toy exciting though it is interesting and intriguing from the start.

All 3 of mine (12, 10, 8) have seen the film. 8 year old was scared but loved it. She does tend to see things earlier, having older siblings.

There's som amazing political thinking and discussion, especially in the second book. It provided us with dinner-table convos for weeks!

[titchy]

The beauty of books as opposed to films is that if the reader doesn't quite get it(the violence or whatever) they won't have the experience to imagine what is happening - films (unfortunately?) by definition give the viewer an image even if they're not ready for one. So yes to the books - their brain and overall lack of experience will ahold them, but no to the films for a while.

[titchy]

shield them I meant - wine and iPhone are not the best combination!

[saffronwblue]

I found this book quite distressing and have banned DD from reading it until she is 11, in a couple of months. I know this is random, but I had to make a quick ruling!
However I think it is more distressing from a parent's point of view. I don't think children feel the full horror of how the society depicted in the book works.

[monsterchild]

I read the books. I don't have kids, me and my niece and nephew all read it. They are 12. I felt it was pretty violent, but looking back on the books that I was reading at that age, I think these are ok.

As others have said, there are some good themes, and while I personally think there are better books than these for those themes, if it gets kids excited about reading, then I'm all for it!

I also agree that imagination can blunt the violence as much as enhance it. And honestly, the violence kids are often exposed to in video games isn't a lot different than these books. The part of the book that disturbed me the most didn't even register with the kids, not really. So there you go!

[DollyTwat]

Ds1 who's 10 has read it. Really enjoyed it
Depends on what you think is suitable. I wouldn't let him see the film though

[JoMumof3]

I read them and as an adult really enjoyed them, but also found them very disturbing (the third book the most). I think a lot of what bothered me though wouldn't be understood by a ten year old.
My children are only 6 and 4 so luckily I'm not having to make these decisions yet. You know your kids best, why don't you read them and see what you think?

[AViewfromtheFridge]

Although they're violent, one of the main themes is that the violence is so wrong - the bit when Katniss covers Rue in flowers and sings to her is just lovely.

I think, as others have said, if she's a voracious reader she'll get most of it but the more distressing elements will go over her head. I remember reading Goodnight Mr Tom in Year 6 and the whole child abuse/ mum's mental illness completely passed me by until I read it with a class, fifteen years later!

[ArthurShappey]

I would let my ten year old read. It does haw violent moments of course but no more violent than what kids are exposed to everyday through newspapers, television and films.

[Takver]

Many thanks all for your advice. I haven't read the books, only reviews of the film, so its helpful to hear from those who have.

It sounds like they'd probably be fine, so I won't put her off if she asks again. She's just got from the library three other books in series' she's already reading so that should keep her occupied for a while anyway!

Its tricky, really, figuring out what is likely to upset them. To be honest the only book she's read in the last year that really, really upset her (she came home from school in tears and was obviously thinking about it for ages) was a Michael Morpurgo about the Foot & Mouth outbreak. I guess that it is much more realistic & close to home so harder to distance yourself from that sort of thing.