Librarian at secondary school recommended a book series for my 11 year old

[Soubriquet]

That she’s way too young for.

If you’ve read Sarah J Maas books Throne of Glass, you will know exactly what I mean. Whilst the first book and the novellas are ok, the others become very sexual.

Im not entirely impressed she suggested these. Should I be ringing the school and just making a small complaint?

I probably would let them know, yes. I love Sarah J Maas and Throne of Glass / ACOTAR etc but they are absolutely not children's books. She's the Queen of spicy fantasy!

Don’t embarrass the well meaning librarian by complaining to the school. I would suggest a short, friendly note to her/him advising about the contents of later books in the series. Also look up the publisher and check what the recommended age is for the books.
The librarian might be a parent volunteer or teaching assistant trying to keep the library organised for the school.

I’m not going to go all gung ho and complain to embarrass them, but I would gently say something like “hi this is DD’s mum. Yesterday she came home telling me the librarian suggested this book. I’m not one to complain and I don’t want to get the librarian in trouble but I was wondering if they know that this book has sexual content in, and not really suitable for an 11 year old”

I looked them up, they are sold as 'teenage fantasy'. I can't imagine teenagers being that interested, frankly, but your daughter is only eleven.

Nowhere did it see reference to overt sexual behaviour in the books but there is a fair bit of violence and horror. Some youngsters can cope with that, others not, it keeps them awake and gives them nightmares.

I wouldn't contact the school about it, it's only a recommendation therefore, presumably, your daughter isn't compelled to read them. She could give them a try and, if they don't interest her, she can try something else.

At eleven most kids know what they like to read and choose their own books, apart from 'set' books at school. Reading must be encouraged and every teacher will have their own ideas about what is a good read and what isn't. I was always an avid reader and loved discussing books, especially interesting characters. What do her friends read, does the school have a good library?

Dd loves to read. She’s got bookshelves full of books and she steals mine which are age appropriate. I don’t let her take ones that are overly sexual. She doesn’t need to read about cocks throbbing, and pussies getting wet. Not at 11

If they're anything like ACOTAR then far too racy for an 11 year old!

Especially once they hit the Cassian sexy times.

Is it worth specifically flagging that although the first in the series is fine, the librarian may not be aware that later books have more explicit content?

(are these books in the school library or was the recommendation for things DD could look for out of school?)

They aren’t as bad as that. Silver flames is highly sexual. Throne of glass series she was only 16 when she wrote them so coming into her own. It does get sexual when she meets Rowan. There’s a little bit of sex with Dorian and Chaol but it’s mostly with Rowan

No in the school library. Librarian also recommended the morganville series which is perfectly fine by me. I have it and it’s a good read, so I’m surprised they went from that, to TOG

I remember when the Twilight series came out and parents were allowing their pre teen children to read them as there was "no sex" in them 🙄

My DS read Throne of Glass series in Y8. I’ve told him others by Maas are inappropriate, having since read articles about her fairy porn / romantasy! He now tells me there is sex in Throne of Glass and I hadn’t realised. But Y8 equivalent we were reading Flowers in the Attic….

he got them out of the school library. In Y7 they were restricted from getting some books out so it’s definitely worth saying something to the librarian. Often it’s other kids on duty though.

I think his school library has a 14+ section.

I think that’s a perfectly sensible response.