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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that 9 yo is too young to watch The Hunger Games?

37 replies

Strictlyison · 07/05/2015 20:02

DS came home yesterday saying that he wants to watch The Hunger Games, and if he can't watch it he wants to read the book. Some of his mates at school have (apparently) watched it. I think the movie is tackling some pretty strong moral issues, and there is so much death murders etc, and there is no way I will let DS watch it at 9 yo. Read the book - I don't think so either. AIBU?

OP posts:

ragged · 07/05/2015 20:03

yanbu on both counts.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 20:06

I think it's fine to read the book at 9 nearly 10, 8 nearly 9 perhaps not. Have you read the book OP?

ragged · 07/05/2015 20:10

It's a cracking read. I still prefer it for my kids age 12+.
The movie is more scary & gruesome I found; JL is a terrific actress.

prepperpig · 07/05/2015 20:13

Ive read all three books (and really enjoyed them) and watched the movies. There is no way DS1 (10) is reading or watching just yet.

I actually think the books are more disturbing than the movies. In the books the creatures at the end are actually the children who have been killed genetically modified and mutated to create creatures that are identifiably the dead children. It's really not suitable for a 9 year old and I was quite when my friend bought the books for DS1's 8th Birthday. They went up into the cupboard until he's about 13.

shitebag · 07/05/2015 20:13

Depends on the 9yo tbh

I wouldn't want mine reading or watching it just yet (I have all the books and DVD's here and I quite enjoy them) because he's very sensitive and gets things stuck in his head and would probably have nightmares about being trapped/dying in all sorts of weird and wonderful manners but my 9yo sisters enjoyed the first movie and are able to completely separate it from real life.

Its not one I'd expect them to be reading/watching at 9 though, I picture aimed more at 12+.

cozietoesie · 07/05/2015 20:14

Just don't let him watch the original 'Battle Royale'. That would really not be on.

GGabcd · 07/05/2015 20:16

My niece read the books when she was about 9 and was fine with it.

But when the film came out she was about 11 and thought it was much more gruesome since it was right in front of her face.

MsVestibule · 07/05/2015 20:20

From what I 've read about it, I'm surprised it's only a 12A. No way would I let my DCs watch it at the age of 9. But I'm constantly surprised by what my seemingly sensible friends alllow their young DCs to watch, so maybe I'm just over cautious and boring .

yellowdaisies · 07/05/2015 20:22

My DD read the books at 9 and then was desparate to watch the film of course. I did think she was too young but her older brother was raving about the books and she just borrowed them and started reading before I could really stop her.

What I did was to read them too - I read in parallel, or sometimes we read together. It meant that we could discuss the things she was reading about. She did find them scary, and kept herself up late at night desparately wanting to read on or just too emotionaly charged by what she'd read to sleep. But she hugely enjoyed reading them. Raved about them for months, invented new games themed around the Hunger Games and generally got an enormous amount out of the series. So I'm a bit in two minds. I do think 12 is probably a better age for most kids. DD was 9.5 and in Y5 at the time and quite sophisticated emotionally.

Rainicorn · 07/05/2015 20:23

What age are the books aimed at? My niece in Y5 was reading the first book at school, as in her whole class were studying it.

redskybynight · 07/05/2015 20:23

A lot of DS's year seem to have read the book (and seen the film at the same sort of time) in Year 6 - so 10 going on 11. My rule is you can't see the film until you've read the book! I do suspect if you read it younger you don't get so affected by tit as an older person might do.

Muskey · 07/05/2015 20:23

I recently posted about this subject asking if the books were suitable for my emotionally young 11 dd. Most people seemed to think it was ok. I have asked a number of people in a large bookshop strain and oddly enough everyone I have asked in the chain have said they didn't think book was suitable for an 11 year old. I have decided to read the books for myself and make a decision from there maybe watching the films yourself might help you decide. Good luck

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 20:24

I didn't think the 'scary' bits were the problem, if anything it's if your child can handle a likeable character dying- I think that's what makes it unsuitable for some readers and unusual reading for children.

They did it in English at ds's school, he was 10-11 iirc but he'd already read it by that point.

can't understand adults reading the books,money are as dull as ditchwater imho

BarbarianMum · 07/05/2015 20:25

I'd let ds1 (9) read it if he wanted to and will encourage him to try it in a couple of years if he hasn't already. But I'm not a big fan of banning books and can't imagine forbidding him to read something. I would discuss it with him though.

Watching the film? No, I wouldn't let him at 9. Maybe at 10/11 after he'd read it and we'd talked about it.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 20:26

Barbarian - would you let him read The Shining at 9?

cozietoesie · 07/05/2015 20:26

The reason I mentioned Battle Royale is that it's on Netflix which many people subscribe to. It's a very fine film - but tough going for an adult let alone a youngster. (Despite the Japanese Film Board classification which is a bit wishy-washy.)

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2015 20:29

Money ? I mean THEY ARE

Hate this iPad

TwinkieTwinkle · 07/05/2015 20:29

Battle Royale is great and that's coming from someone who hates scary and/or violent films.

Hulababy · 07/05/2015 20:29

I think both the book and the film are too old for a 9yo.

I would say the book is more suitable from 11y up, so towards end of y6 maybe. Film after reading the book.

I suspect a younger child can read the book, ie read the words on the page, they are not really going to comprehend it all fully and "get" the finer detail - which then questions what the point is.

jelliebelly · 07/05/2015 20:31

My ds(9) has read the book and really enjoyed it - I wouldn't let him watch the film yet though.

At 9 I think some of the understanding is very superficial so he doesn't read as much into it as an adult would iyswim

BarbarianMum · 07/05/2015 20:31

Yes, if he really wanted to. I certainly wouldn't suggest it.

My dad tried banning me from reading all sorts of books. It didn't work, I read them secretly anyway. If ds is going to read something I'd rather a) know about it and b) give him the space to discuss aspects of the contents he found disturbing. If he wanted to read something like '50 Shades of Grey' (he wouldn't, he'd be excruitiatingly embarrassed, so this is very hypothetical) it would be on the condition of long discussions about normal and healthy relationships.

Mistigri · 07/05/2015 20:31

Depends a lot on the child - dd also read them as a relatively mature 9 or 10 year old. She tends to self censor and stops if it's too much for her. She didn't see the first film until later and hasn't bothered with subsequent ones as by the time they came out she'd lost interest.

There comes a point where censorship battles get much harder to win, so you have to think carefully about whether taking a hard line isn't just encouraging them to do it without your permission. (I lost the game of thrones debate a year or so ago, though she had also read the books first which I think is generally a good idea).

Hulababy · 07/05/2015 20:32

www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-hunger-games

This site is often pretty good for "real" reviews.

fiveacres · 07/05/2015 20:32

Mines read it and seen the film. I didn't find the film gory at all. Found Jurassic park more disturbing to be honest - and Jaws.

Radiatorvalves · 07/05/2015 20:33

I would let 10yo DS read the books. He's read Divergent and is a big reader, but don't think the film would go down at all well...whereas he's seen the divergent film. I think the Hunger Games us much better, but he's too young.

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