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Original poster

Philip Pullman, His Dark Materials Trillogy, suitable for a class of 7/8 year olds???

56 replies

MrsSpoon · 21/08/2007 18:57

DS1 has come back from his first day back at School bursting with excitement about these books, apparently the teacher has started reading the first to them today. He has asked me to buy them. I have done a little research and I am a little alarmed. We have bought a copy of the first book from e-Bay to try and speed read it ourselves, are the books really suitable for this age group? If nothing else the plot sounds very complicated (or as far as write ups on Wilkepedia etc go) and it seems to be dealing with some very big issues (or is this on a level with Aslan being Jesus etc, ie would go straight above most readers' heads?).

FWIW he's got the Narnia books sitting waiting to be read but feels they are too difficult.

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barnstaple · 24/08/2007 16:07

I think they're exactly right for 12yo, introducing the idea of religion vs science as the governing ethos, and that extremes of anything are bad. This will go over the head of a younger child, as will a lot more of the book, but they can still enjoy the bits they do understand, and will re-read when they are older. I doubt it will do your ds any harm to read it. I hope my dd's teacher does this when she goes back. She's 8. (I lent Northern Lights to FIL and he hasn't given it back - I suspect it was too hard for him!)

Cammelia · 24/08/2007 15:58

Lol Blu I remember looking at my father's copies of Virgin Soldiers and Valley of the Dolls when I was about 8

Dinosaur · 24/08/2007 15:55

LOL, Marina, better keep him off the Rabbit threads on mn .

Marina · 24/08/2007 15:54

And excellently dramatised for children's TV starring Terrence Hardiman as the eponymous Headmaster blu
We have had to fend ds off dh's collection of Updike novels as well. "So it's about a Rabbit..."?

PenelopePitstops · 24/08/2007 14:22

blu have you never heard of the demon headmaster? its a great book, about a headmaster who hypnotises his pupils. Not as scary as it sounds!

Blu · 24/08/2007 14:16

What on earth is The Demon Headmaster? And i wonder if the school head will be the next to intervene! I guess the teacher read forward a bit - sounds as if she handled her mistake terribly well!

My early inappropriate reading consisted of my dodgy uncle's Mandingo books from the age of about 7.

not recommended. oh no, not at all.
Then Mum's John Updike from about 9. Much better.

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 24/08/2007 13:59

LOL Marina, no the fact that you are a friend who lives in my computer is the unhinged bit!

Thanks Snorkle, it's a bit scary to think that she might be a Mnetter, I'll need to watch what I post.

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snorkle · 24/08/2007 12:53

glad it's resolved - wonder if you'll ever know if the teacher's a secret mumsnetter.

Marina · 24/08/2007 10:01

I hope it is not the fact that I'm a librarian made it sound unhinged MrsSpoon

PhoenixSongbird · 24/08/2007 09:08

Oh, now I've just read Mrs Spoon's second from last post

Glad it's all sorted! The books are incredible though, so keep them in mind for the future

PhoenixSongbird · 24/08/2007 09:06

Sorry, I haven't got time to read all the responses. Funnily enough I've just finished re-reading these myself. A 7/8 year could probably cope with the first book, and most of the second, but bits of the third book were a little over my head at first, it took some work. The themes are very grown up - far-reaching consequences of actions, betrayal, death of God etc, but I think (at least with the first one) younger kids would still get something out of it. The main character is 12, but quite a young 12 at times, and the first one is largely about children so there are points of reference. The deeper stuff would probably wash over them to be honest.

I loved Grease when I was 8/9 and it took years to realise what it meant when they said Rizzo was 'knocked up'

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 23/08/2007 21:57

Thanks, I was working out how to phrase, "My friend Marina, who's a librarian, says ..." without sounding to unhinged but we've escaped for the meantime. We will still read the book when it arrives as it's always worth being prepared in case she has a change of mind.

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Cammelia · 23/08/2007 21:55

Dd aged 10.5 has read the first book of the trilogy and is half-way through the second. They were bought for her by one of her godmothers who knows that dd has a pretty advanced reading age.

I would say that she is just old enough for them as she is a child who has been exposed to lots of sophisticated art and ideas.

Interestingly we took her to look around Roedean recently and the Head asked her what she was reading currently. When she told her, the head was most interested to discuss the books with dd as she had recently read them, also saying that dd was young to be reading them (not said in a critical way).

When dd was asked questions about the books she had come to the same conclusions as the Head

Marina · 23/08/2007 21:42

I'm glad it's resolved MrsSpoon

Original poster
MrsSpoon · 23/08/2007 21:38

Thought I would update with the rather odd twist to this story. The next day at School the teacher took a vote and asked how many children wanted to continue with Northern Lights, according to DS1 most of the class put their hands up, the teacher then went on to explain that Northern Lights has a lot of big words in it that would take her a long time to explain and perhaps this would spoil the story, would they like to read the Demon Headmaster instead, they then voted for the Demon Headmaster. Now either she's a MNetter or another parent was quicker off the mark at questioning whether this book was suitable.

Thanks again for all your comments.

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OrmIrian · 22/08/2007 12:41

Rings a bell seeker, rings a bell! But not quite loud enough. Remind me please

seeker · 22/08/2007 12:38

OrmIrian - did you read "The Mask of Apollo"?

Mumpbump · 22/08/2007 12:37

I don't think the contents would worry me particularly, but can't imagine it holding their attention through to the end of the book, tbh. I seem to remember it being quite long, although the plot was not too slow-moving.

seeker · 22/08/2007 12:37

I think no for two reasons. One because it's too complicated dark and scary and two because a lot of them will love it when they get to the right age and being offered it too early could well spoil it for them and put them off. Oh, and another reason there may well be children in the class who will love and understand it, but there are bound to be others who will simply be bored and baffled and it's not fair on them.

My 11 year old is trying on and off to read them, by the way, and there is a lot she doesn't understand. And she is a good and enthusiastic reader.

OrmIrian · 22/08/2007 12:36

How did you guess Marina?

Marina · 22/08/2007 12:36

oooh, now did you have Chariots of the Gods too

OrmIrian · 22/08/2007 12:35

I became quite obsessed with the White Goddess for a long while. Looking for evidence of matriarchal religion everywhere. I think it even beat my dad's ley line obession in the 70's when he ruined all our OS maps with red line all over them

Marina · 22/08/2007 12:30

Ormirian, I rather enjoyed Vance Packard's The Hidden Persuaders and Cyril Connolly's The Enemies of Promise . The White Goddess proved my undoing, although I did like Count Belisarius and King Jesus. My dad was a HUGE Robert Graves fan.

zippitippitoes · 22/08/2007 11:28

they must be a class of very bright children..surely much too hard just as literature for this age group..I would think most average kids would be put off reading

OrmIrian · 22/08/2007 11:23

Suetonius??? No I have to admit

But i did tackle Robert Graves The White Goddess when I was about 10. And various similarly abstruse stuff.

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