What age for the Harry Potter books from GoF onwards?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

My son (8) has recently got into the HP audio books (the new full-cast editions) and he is LOVING them. He’s just started listening to book 3, which, in my opinion is pretty dark, especially the lake scene towards the end. I’ve warned him it could be scary for him but he’s confident he’ll be fine. He’s already talking about starting book 4 (Goblet of Fire) as soon as he’s done with PoA.

Although I think I was only a few months older than he is now when GoF released and I read it as soon as it came out and don’t remember being scarred by it 🤔

Personally I’d say at least 12. The later books are aimed at young adults, not children, and have very dark themes. I accept not all parents will feel the same way though.

DS is 7, we've been doing one per birthday since he turned 6. So will read #3 when he turns 8, 4 at age 9 and so on. Will probably guage it after that, can't see me managing to restrain him all the way to age 12 🤣 not like when we were forced to wait for them to be released!!! My daughter will get to read PS when she turns 6 if she chooses to.

From a reading age perspective I think DS would blitz through the series if I let him, but agree there are some bits in future books I'd rather he was a bit more mature for before we broach them. Though also I feel what an adult reads into things can be very different to a child so would probably go over his head anyway!!

I'd like them to have read the book before watching any films/the relevant series of the upcoming TV show so might have to review depending on how the timelines work out.

Two of my DCs finished the whole shebang by 10 (stealth boast lol), the other one was totally uninterested in it.

I've just asked them if they found it scary or horrifying and the answer was a clear 'Nah'.

I don't think books have the same impact as a film and also, even though there are some bad bits in HP the series overall is upbeat, justice is always done at the end of the book and the tone is optimist, even when something bad is happening you know it will be resolved.

My 8yo has just finished reading GoF and has seen the film (must read book before film- that's the rule!) and hasn't asked to watch it again but wouldn't admit it was scary.
I don't think Order of the Phoenix will happen for a while tbh- maybe Xmas. It turns noticeably darker in GoF and I think the more death/darker themes might be too much.
I think it's important to consider both if the content is suitable for your DC (mine is quite sensitive/overactive imagination) as well as if they're actually understanding the story- both what's happening at the time and the wider context of the past/future. I'm probably overthinking it but it has such an impact on the HP experience 😅

Mine started them when he was six, I think, and read the whole cycle really quickly. And again. And again. He was obsessed! The only bit that upset him was Dumbledore:( And he was,and still is, a very sensitive and imaginative kid.

11 year old DD had them finished before she was 10. DS is 9 and he's currently on book 6. He's a slow reader so I'd say will be 10 before he finishes the last one.

That was my initial thought, about the books having less of an impact than the films, however the full cast editions are much more immersive than the ordinary books, or the Stephen Fry audiobooks. They’re kind of like listening to the movies but with the detail of the books. They’re amazing tbh, I’m on my second listen already 🤣

I might just see how he takes the lake scene with the dementors and Sirius and take it from there. He’s not overly sensitive, and I have warned him that GoF is a bit dark and there are deaths in it. He didn’t seem phased but obviously me warning him is completely different from it actually happening in the story.

id say if he is already reading them then carry on