To say my DM was not unreasonable to let me read adult books aged 11?

[CraveThatRadox]

I adore reading and in school, was very natural at English and History. I actively spoke about these things and I've always been a very passionate person on topics of interest. When I look back, I owe this to my DM giving me grown up books.

I was in Year 6, so about 11 (I'm a September baby), when I stumbled upon her 'Pillars of The Earth' book.

I said "Oh what's this about?". I was given a rough idea but couldn't stop asking. She then said "read it, if you like. It's quite dense though".

I did read it. I couldn't put the thing down. I had read the whole thing within two weeks or so. I brought it to school to read during reading time once, and it got confiscated

AIBU to say she was fab for not making a huge deal out of things, and letting me read what I wanted?

Needless to say I wouldn't love books if I was encouraged to read JW shite of my time

Not sure I would have a problem with in utero DS reading grown up things by Year 6.

From other childish/non childish sources actively shoved in our faces, my generation knew a lot about sex and what not by age 11.

Nothing in anything I read stole away my innocence. Classmates and other unrealistic trash sees to that

I let dd read Game of Thrones age 12. She's always been a forward reader and I know she skipped over the sex scenes as they were 'eww'.

I've always thought young people should be judged individually, rather than sweeping generalisations. I was reading Stephen King at 11, my elder sister was happier reading her My Guy magazines at that age.

No doubt some will come on here and slate your mother and I as disgraceful, disgusting parents though.

No your mother wasn't unreasonable as she probably knew you well enough to make that call.
Why do think she was considered to be unreasonable?

Interestingly enough, I remember a lot of other parents finding out about my reading material and being very at my DM.

Similarly, I remember a thread for many moons ago saying the OP shouldn't allow her DC to finish the Harry Potter series since they're too 'much'.

As an aside, Ken Follet is an amazing author. If you liked his style I'd highly recommend Bernard Cornwell too.

I did this too, I hope it's not too unusual! I remember reading Point Horror and Point Crime books (remember those!?) from about Year 5, I found them fascinating.

I was the same. I think kids are generally pretty good at self-centred hip.

Oooh I loved the point horror books! I read those in primary school too. My DM was very much like the OP's DM and was happy for me to read whatever I wanted from whenever I wanted, I was reading Stephen King by year 6. I'll happily let DS read what he wants as I believe reading improves spelling and widens vocabulary.

I was a very advance reader. To the extent that at the age of 7 I had the maximum 4 library tickets and was the only child in our small town allowed to go into the adult section and take books out from there. i was reading Agatha Christie at 7 and assorted horror by 9.

Never did me any harm (continues burying body under patio)

It's very difficult because most books that challenge my nearly 11 year old have some risqué stuff in it. The children's library bores her but I worry about what reads from the YA section. She has a reading age of 13. When I try and put her onto the classics like The Secret Garden or Treasure Island, she looks at me like I'm mad and says, "but that was written three centuries ago and looks BORING!"

YANBU. My parents let me read anything I wanted at pretty much any age. I read lots of crime thrillers, fantasy, horror, historical fiction and sci-fi aimed at adults from the age of about 10 onwards. I read loads of George Orwell's books when I was in last year of primary school because my dad liked Orwell and the books were hanging around. It was the 1980s and nobody seemed to think this was a problem.

I don't have kids but I would definitely be the same with regards to their reading.

And yet I see lots of parents on Mumsnet who are really appalled that some kids are allowed to read 'adult' books - in the days when I just used to lurk and not post, there was a thread by a mother who was furious that her 11-year-old had been allowed to read a book at school (I forget what the book was, but it was something well-known and critically acclaimed) and some people were chipping in to say it was a disgrace and that they wouldn't let their child stray outside the kids' section of Waterstones/the library even when they were teenagers.

Hmm.

My parents put no restrictions on my reading and looking back I read all sorts of inappropriate stuff. None of it was damaging but still...

One of my DC is an advanced reader and I allow him to read well above his age group but not yet adult books, mostly because I'm not sure he'd really understand them (even if he could read the words).

I read Pride and Prejudice as a 9 year old but thought it was boring. I read it again at 14 and thought it was brilliant. It's not just about being able to read the text.

We have a deal that if he really wants a library book I'm not sure about, then I read it first and he abides by my decision.

There is plenty of good childrenand young adult literature around there days there's no need to rush primary school kids to adult books.

By the time he's worked out how to sneak books home without me noticing he'll probably be old enough to read them.

As for the Mum who restricted Harry Potter she knows her own kid best.

I have several friends who children are considered "too sensitive" to read Harry Potter by their parents, which is entirely their decision and no business of mine.

I have made a different decision but then I have different kids.

I'd read most of the Agatha Christie books by 12 then it was Stephen King and 13 onwards was Jilly Cooper.

**and The Joy of Sex

Wouldn't say Pillars of the Earth was dense, but there are a lot of sex/rapey scenes I don't think I'd be comfortable with an 11 yr old reading that or its sequel.

Saying that I was left to my own devices/family bookshelves and had read James Herbert and Jackie Collins by that age. Explains a lot really.

Ooh DameD, Stephen King had me hooked from tween-age. Reading tHe Stand into the early hours till my eyes hurt.

Ooh DameD, Stephen King had me hooked from tween-age. Reading tHe Stand into the early hours till my eyes hurt under the covers with a torch?

Of course

Yep, I was an avid SK reader by that age, and anything else I could get my hands on. I used to visit the library twice a week.

Ds is 15 (well, in a couple of weeks) and by about 12/13 had read PotE, all of GoT and anything else that interested him off my bookshelves. He seems to be well adjusted so far...

I don't understand why you would give your children adult books when there are so many fantastic children's books to read. Do people feel that there should be no age restrictions on films either?

I agree with you, OP. I read whatever I fancied as a child and I'm fine. My DS is 13 and I don't censor books with him either, he's come across a couple of themes in the last couple of years that he's asked me about and it's sparked some very important and open conversations which I'm glad about TBH.

I read The Clan of the Cave Bear at 9 and Tess of the D'Urbervilles at 11.

As a teenager though, I wasn't allowed to read Just 17, Mizz or whatever the one that ran Position of the Fortnight was called.

Go figure.

Your mum sounds great, I was allowed to read what I wanted as soon as I could read properly as well.

I agree op.

I read all sorts by secondary age. Sadly my Mum only read Mills & Boon. I remember we had a Dennis Wheatley "devil' book that had come from goodness knows where. (Generally I don't think occult stuff is healthy and I wouldn't have it on my shelves. So I AM a hypocrite.)

On the Harry Potter point, I didn't think the later books were that great for 7 year olds. The first of our family read them as published from about aged 8 or 9 and grew up with them. They work well as books about developing friendships and just don't seem as pertinent for the younger readers. So I might have popped up on that thread and said my 7 year old only read the first 3.

I was a voracious reader and I'd say most of it did me no harm. HOWEVER I did read Flowers in the Attic at about 11 or 12, and remember finding that disturbing and wishing I hadn't read it.

I still think that book is awful, but I think I was too young to deal with the frankly bizarre issues raised in it.