To let dd 8 read all the Jacqueline Wilson books?

[PolkadotCircus]

So dd has just turned 8 and loves JW.She's a prolific reader and loved the JW aimed at younger readers. Not into censoring books so because she wanted to I said she could read the rest.She's just read Cookie and dp was a bit shocked,thinks we shouldn't let her read the others.

Ok it's a book re dv and the dad calls the little girl ugly,chops her rabbit's head off and hits the mum but for some reason dd loved it and that is real life for some children.

She's quite sensible and we chatted over the issues ie I said the daddy was a bit poorly. However she has been asking about it -a lot.

So should I let her read the rest or not? Oh and if anybody could give me a heads up re content of the most gritty I'd be very grateful.

At 8, I'd read the Reader's Digest Family Medical Guide and a book called 'The World's Most Famous Murders' or something similar.

I am now not a murderer.

In this context, Jacqueline Wilson seems like Beatrix Potter... I wouldn't worry.

Can't you just suggest that she reads the more age appropriate books first before letting her read about sibling suicides, manic depression etc.

Phew, I don't know why I just thought you'd written Jackie Collins. I was about to about to get very shouty! Yanbu, I think if she enjoys the books then let her read. I read Double Act and Tracy Beaker around age 8-12.

Jacqueline came to our school to visit when I was about 10 and I got her autograph. .

I let my DDs read whatever they wanted including JW at that age. I don't get what is so bad about it! Also some people who ban Harry Potter etc!

yy to the ones mentioned by cory and fuzzpig - they would be in the 13+ section in a bookshop so that's 5 years older than your dd. The others would be in 8-12 so much more appropriate, though still a little disturbing for sensitive children. How about suggest she reads 3 or 4 different books in between each one and try her on the many thousands of other amazing pre-teen books (try the Children's Books board for ideas if you've not visited before).

YANBU. When I was eight I read anything and everything.

I myself was very dubious about the JW books because of the hideous Tracy Beaker TV programme, but having read a bit I think the books are better at dealing with the issues.

As long as you are happy to discuss the books with her, I would be pleased she's reading and let her crack on.

Funnily enough, I have more reservations about Roald Dahl, it's always seemed to me that there is a sadistic bullying streak in his books (and by that I don't mean the bullies but the author), but I didn't stop dd from reading them, just discussed them with her.

I was reading Stephen Kings novels when i was 10, I wouldn't worry about JW! My Sister Jodie is a good book, Sad ending, but nothing wrong with learning a bit of empathy and understanding of the world around you. dd1 read it last year, she was 9.

If you read them first so you can discuss them with her then YANBU, if you (after reading) think they are suitable then they probably are, you know your dd best.

For some strange reason I got Jacqueline Wilson and Jackie Collins mixed up in my head when I read the thread title. I was a bit until my brain fart subsided.

Jacqueline Wilson is fine for an 8 yo. :o

Roald Dahl REALLY scared me - the BFG!!

JW is fine, in my opinion. My only criticism is that she recycles characters so much. The "eldest sibling taking on the mother role" has been done so many times now in Lola Rose, Lily Alone, Clean Break, and quite a few more!

Fakebook I met JW and got her autograph too! I was a nervous wreck in the queue at wh smiths - so excited! Should probably mention that I was 22 at the time and surrounded by children......

I haven't read many of the newer books as Tracy Beaker came out when I was a pre-teen but I read some more when my younger dsis was that age too. Yes they are gritty but I think JW handles the issues she raises VERY well and is a good staring point for conversation. Although I was brought up by a fairly nuclear family (except with a wonderful SDF) it did make me think about those less fortunate. I don't think there is any harm in an 8 year old knowing that the world isn't marvellous and plenty of adults are fuck ups. The few that I have read have been sad, but ultimately there was some kind of happy ending.

Having said that I did find it quite hard picking some out for my dn for christmas, who is 7.

We did goodnight Mr tom in school when I was 10.... We must have been hard kids as none of us were too bothered by it!

My librarian when I was a child let me use my parents adult tickets once I had run out of things to read in the children's section.
I actually used the entire families collection of tickets. The lovely woman didn't bat an eyelid as I booked out Stephen king, James herbert etc. You're so lucky to have a child who loves reading it must be a pleasure to watch. My two DC don't and its a shame knowing of all they could get from books but won't.

I think JW books are great and my DD (7) really loves them. We've been lucky it seems to start with some good ones for her age like sleepovers/ the mum-minder/ four children and it (I recommend that!) / the worst thing about my big sister. I will avoid that Jodie one from the sounds of it. The interesting one was Vicky Angel where the friend dies. When she asked me to read a chapter to her at bedtime I could hardly read through my tears. She wasn't affected at all, was just matter of fact, the character has died. Maybe she is (luckily) too young to empathise. I'm just a soggy soppy old mum, can't read anything like that without dissolving!

I was obsessed with Jacqueline Wilson books between the age of 7-10. I remember my mum was a bit concerned that I would have nightmares from them but they never really bothered me. They were very popular in my class in primary school. The girls in love books were aimed at slightly older readers, I think.
When I started secondary school I remember my English teacher telling my mum that she should encourage me to read more advanced stuff than Jacqueline Wilson which was 'a bit young' for me.

At that age I was reading very age inappropriate stuff, but that was before there was a lot of teenage reading available. It didn't really exist as a genre apart from a few authors like Alan Garner. If you were an advanced reader you had to go straight from Enid Blyton to adult books. And it was straight to the tacky end of the library (wasn't quite ready for classics and proper literature, Harold Robins and Lucinda Andrews were more accessible).

I read The Happy Hooker at 10. My parents were generally protective but didn't police my reading. JW seems quite mild by comparison!

I think they are great, they ahve opened all sorts of debates in our family. My daughter just turned 9.

She also reads cathy cassidy and loves those too.

Id rather we discussed issues like these as a family rather than playground gossip.

When my dd was younger she came downstairs at bedtime in a terrible state, sobbing uncontrollably.She'd just finished a JW book, and at the end a child had thrown herself out of the window and died
.
I felt awful because I hadn't read the book, so I hadn't been able to warn her.

These books do seem to vary as to the age they are aimed at.

My 8 yo reads and loves all of them. I read Jane eyre at 7, with death, child abuse, the mad woman in the attic! And I'm fine.

My nearly 11yr old DD has read/is reading them. She started liking them at around 9.

I don't tend to police her reading (obv mills and boon is out of the question!) but then she is quite sensible. We discuss anything she asks about it. DD2 (7) has started reading them too.

The good thing about reading is that you make up the 'horrors' in your own head, you are controlling it a bit. Watching them on TV gives you the image right there and it's hard to get away from it IYSWIM??

EG, DD1 HATES the film A Series of Unfortunate events, but loves the book. The film scares her and gives her nightmares, yet she will happily read the book.

My daughter is 9 and after reading the comments here she won't be reading any JW books soon, lol.
I think there's plenty of time if at all for this type of material.
Anyway, she hasn't read all Enid Blyton books yet.