To try to choose the books my daughter reads??

[lemonysnickett]

My DD is 11. I have noticed girls in her class are reading books which might be found in teens section in bookshops...at the moment a series of books by ally carter, some of the J.Wilson books...generally about boy/girl stuff. I think a lot of books on offer slip issues like this in..I would rather she kept on with Enid type books if you know what I mean...what does everyone else do? I know I want her to have a love of reading and this will ultimately come from her choosing what she wants to read...really don't know what to do here!

At this age I was going to the library on my own and reading whatever I wanted, including from the adult section. Reading was always my guilty pleasure, and unfortunately nothing would have put me off a book faster at that age than having it recommended as 'suitable' by my mum!

I would agree with let her choose.

I read all my mother's Virginia Andrews books (yes i know they are shite! ) by 12 and had read Jilly Cooper's Riders. However, i was also still re-reading my Enid Blyton books, my Pullein-Thompsons and other age appropriate (and younger) books. I was given A Handmaids Tale and Jane Eyre to read by the school at 13.

I think it is best to let children read what they want, perhaps introducing them to new types of book, but letting them choose what they like/dislike. If i had to read (for example) sci-fi the whole time i doubt i would read at all iyswim?

Different parenting then Ephiny, my mother introduced me to sci-fi and PD James. Children at school often ask me what I'd recommend as an author or a book for them to try, because they know I love reading and have very broad tastes.

I'm bucking the trend, yanbu. I still supervise what books that DS (11) reads; he read Lola Rose (JWilson book) and declared it ought to be rated 15 if it were a movie (and I tend to agree). Some of the JW books are quite disturbing. I don't want him onto any of the teenage graphic novels (very sexualised images and graphic violence, I don't want him reading the Star Wars novels yet (not so much sex but LOTS of violence). And lots of mature complex themes, terrible moral dilemnas, that I know he's not ready for. There's some pretty awful stuff in the Clone Wars movies and comics, for that matter, that I'd rather DSs didn't encounter.

But somewhere between Enid Blyton and gory teenage graphic novels, there is a lot of room for maneuver.

What I do: I try to screen things, I read a lot of books that DC liked so I have a good idea what certain series & authors are like. I steer them away from the teen section in the library. I don't fret if they've already read something I dislike, but I DO then talk about the issues, what was disturbing/unpleasant/mature content. DD not yet asking to read Twilight series, but that's the sort of thing I'd read myself first to judge if I'm okay about it.

Has no one mentioned Harry Potter? Has disturbing events, but quite formulaic, so better than many series.

I don't restrict reading for my dds (oldest is 11), I rather approve of JW though my dds aren't interested in her teen/boy-girl stuff yet. But I do promote what I consider "good" books and a wide range of books rather enthusiastically - so if we're going on holiday I might scour the 2nd hand shops and pack 20 or so books mainly of my choosing. And I give them books i like for birthdays, Christmas etc. They can choose what they like from library etc but this approach seems to work for mine, they do read a wide range including lots of older and modern "classics".

Enid Blyton was the author seen as Not Good Enough in my childhood, our library wouldn't stock her, it's funny that now she's seen as a bit of a classic. (I liked her, so do my dds, but she was in the JW/dodgy category when I was that age).

my DD is a book addict, and reads a massive variety of books. At 11, she was very much into Darren Shan books, also ANtony Horowitz the cherub series. And just starting to get into the vampire stuff. She prefers horror to gooey relationships. ALthough she did also like the tracey beaker books. and the "angus thongs and perfect snogging" type books.

If she likes to read, I would encourage her to look in the teen section at the library, and select books based on the blurb - I would encourage my DD to try one new author every time she went to the library and she has a wide range of interests now, and continues to experiment with authors and genres.

They will chose books based on subjects they like, and as supersonicdave says above, you may find them reverting to their childhood favs now and then.

My parents gave me free run of the children's library and later teen and adult section which I am grateful for. The only book they ever made me take back without reading was when I got out the Exorcist at about 12.
Under 8 or so I'd expect to mainly choose, over that they choose within reason, but keeping them interested in reading is in many ways more important than what they are reading. Being able to read quickly is a useful skill to acquire, and you're more likely to acquire this skill if you are into whatever you are reading, no matter how crap it is (within reason).

Its a tough one, you want to protect them but no hold them back as such. Depends on your DD really - some kids are more mature than others at 11 but at the same time you dont want to expose them to things too young.

I was not happy that my DD in Y2 and on free reading was choosing Tracy Beaker books from the school library at age 6.5. At this age I do think that Enid type books are more suitable!

I don't like the Jacqueline Wilson Misery memoir stuff, but I think I'd give that to my children rather that Enid Blyton and her boring racist, sexist, classist badly written formula junk!

neither of my children have ever bothered reading any Enid Blyton as it just never appealed to them. By 11 my youngest was into the likes of Captain Underpants and Wimpy kid. Not the most high brow going but it was what he wanted to read. Now aged 13 he was spotted last night reading the Jose Mourinho biography

Let her read what she wants.

If it's something too old for her she probably won't want to keep on with it anyway but if you make a big fuss about not reading something you might make it seem more attractive to her or even scare her off from something that isn't really bad by making her think she shouldn't be curious.

I've read a couple of Jacqueline Wilson's just to get the idea of what my neice was reading (and better them than Twilight any day) and they aren't that bad, they have normal subjects like bullying or having a sibling who does better than you or divorce etc, but they handle them quite gently and usually the main character is young but has her head screwed on right. I don't think your daughter will come to any harm from reading them.

I would ensure she has the opportunity to access a whole range of books, but would let her chose her own reading material.

Nothing worse than having to read a book you'd rather not have to.

thanks for all the advice...have decided to BACK OFF!!

I used to read my dad's Jackie Collins and Harold Robbins books whenever he and mum went out and I don't think it's done me any lasting harm.

I look after a school library, and although we only allow certain books to be read by the Year 7's and 8's (Darren Shan, Girls in Love, Ann Cassidy stuff), most Jacqueline Wilson books will be fine for her.

Does she like Cathy Cassidy? Cathy Hopkins, Jean Ure? All very popular with year 6's and 7's.

I read a boy called it when I was 11

and grew up on jaws , jurrassic read the actual books which are gory

I not suggesting this but in perspective I think you can let her choose.

I was reading Agatha Christy and Stephen King by 11. Let her choose or she will decide reading is for babies.

If she doesn't have the mental capablities to process it, it can't damage her. Screens are different. Screens throw images at you that you may not have ever encountered before. Your own brain can't do that, books are much much safer.

It's also worth thinking about what they might be reading at school next year. My first year at senior school one of our set books was 'The Catcher in the Rye' quickly followed by 'A Kind of Loving'.

For example - Beetlejuice (the film) scared me silly at 11, but I read the TommyKnockers at around the same age, and was more fascinated than scared. It scares me more NOW, as an adult, because I have a much deeper understanding. (And I now find Beetlejuice hilarious)

Entirely sympathise with OP.

But I remember sneaking a copy of Rosemary's Baby upstairs when I was 11. Very good it was too!

I was reading Agatha Christy and Stephen King by 11. Let her choose or she will decide reading is for babies.

If she doesn't have the mental capablities to process it, it can't damage her. Screens are different. Screens throw images at you that you may not have ever encountered before. Your own brain can't do that, books are much much safer.

really good post colditz,

Bear i mind that I am the peson who glanced into her 12 year old dd's room one Sunday morning and discovered that she was half way though Riders!

Glued to is, she was!