to think that a book aimed at teenagers containing drinking, pregnancy, abortion, heroin and an abandoned baby shouldn't be in a yr 4 class to read at home?

[KeithTalent]

This is not the first time dd1 has brought home a book which is way too old for her .

I have been in twice already to say to the teacher "I'm sure this is here by mistake", and now it has happened again.

The book is "Can you keep a secret" by Sandra Glover, and while I'm sure it's thrilling in a teen-Eastenders schadenfreude kind of way, I really feel sad that dd has got 1/3 of the way through it at school today, and is kicking off because I won't let her read the rest.

So, am I being overprotective?

Fwiw, I don't let her watch Eastenders!

I think that as it's the third time I would be making an appointment with the Head. It's just not good enough.

YANBU. Go in and ask for meeting with head, or email asking for same and give them -hell-- express your concerns.

That book should NOT be given to an 8 year old, no reason at all for that kind of information at that age. What's the problem with children growing up at a sensible pace???

Thanks all- will ask for a meeting with the head tomorrow.

What do I say, other than I'm upset dd has read this, and is he aware that this is available to yr 4s?

The school is quite pushy academically, I have a feeling there are a lot of books in school which are too old, as there are a lot of children who are very able readers and need stretching. However, this doesn't mean that the content has to get quite so dark.

I'd be Fucking Furious.

As an English teacher (and the mother of 2 great readers in primary school) this is NOT ON. It smacks of lazy ordering. I would go so far as to say there has been a failure in th duy of care towards the children in the school - there are zillions of boks out there which will stretch their reading without exposing them to stuff of this sort. Heroin and abortion? FFS!!!!

What's wrong with Treasure island? Jane Eyre? or getting more modern, Skellig, Lord of the Rings, Michael Morpurgo, Joan Aitken....loads of fantastic , challenging, age-appropriate fiction out there. Seriously, is my 8yo brught this home from school, I'd go schiz.

not sure Jane Eyre would be any more suitable, it deals some rather adult issues IIRC.

Agree though that it should not be difficult to organize a more challenging reading list.

I think Jane Eyre is alright - particularly the references to schooling and tuberculosis. It ties in with Victorians very well.

Wildfell Hall (Tenant of) is another good one.

Wuthering Heights - now that is maybe a bit too complex. Not in terms of what happens but just the characterisation, it would be difficult for a younger child to appreciate the complexity of Heathcliff/Cathy.

Some of my Year 6 love reading Agatha Christie. It is very clean really.

Jane Eyre does deal with rejection by family, bullying and disease epidemics in underfed Victorians.. (memories of reading, aged 10, the bit where Jane wakes up next to the dead Helen ) BUT is still far less impacting than heroin addiction and abortion in a comtemporary novel.

I can't get over this OP. We hated our 8yo reading Hetty Feather recently cos it exposed her to stuff she wasn't emotionally ready for - and this is a book written for pre-teens. Not read thie book in question, but just imagining my reaction if dd1 brought Junk or Stone Cold home as a reader. RRRRROOOARRR!!!! on your behalf.

Agreed Gherkin, we have had some of the Jacqueline Wilson's from the libary. I have been letting her read them, apart from some of the older ones, but they are a grim lot.