Aibu to think that stephen kings It isn't suitable for a 12 year old?

[chubbylover78]

My dh spoke to his son yesterday to ask what he had for christmas,(sent son a text christmas day as that's what son asked), loads of gifts as usual but mentioned he'd gotten It and Dr sleep in book form. I know he's seen It part 1 which is rated as a 15 but the book is considerably more graphic and contains in depth violence and sex as well as usual bad language(I've read it so I do know). Aibu to think that a 12 year old shouldn't be reading it unless a parent has read it first, films are easier as they could be watched and the parent then decide. The film is only based on the book and doesn't contain half of whats in it.
Yes- I am being unreasonable and a 12 year old should read it and make up their own mind.
No- I'm not being unreasonable and a parent should do more research first before letting a child read such books.

Child abuse
Hypothermia

Oh. And suicide. Little Mermaid.

I am now starting to realise why I am so difficult to scare😂 Haven't been impressed by a horror movie for YEARS.

It's my mission in life to find one that's scary

I watched Texas chain massacre in high school...

Another Virginia Andrews and SK early reader here

Yep, I read Stephen King and Virginia Andrews at a young age and can confirm that I am definitely a bit of a weirdo

Oh wow yes, Virginia Andrews,how bloody weird were those books?! Insect,child abuse, poisoning but SO good!

I let my DS have SK books at 17. If he'd asked for them earlier it would have been a dilemma. I wouldn't have wanted to pre-read them myself because I hate anything gory or gross.

I remember a girl in 6th form making herself sick because she was supposedly traumatized by something in a SK book. (Was a bit of a drama queen though.)

James Herbert and Stephen King were pretty much all that we read at one point at my boarding school. don't see the issue

I never had limits placed on what I read, OP, and intend to take the same approach with my children. Films are different because it's not limited to what you can picture in your 12 yo mind.

I tended to get bored with books that were too grown up anyway and when I did scare myself silly with books (Blair Witch Project series being a memorable example!) it taught me a bit of judgement and I can't say it scarred me for life.

I understand your concern but think your stepson will be fine.

It's my mission in life to find one that's scary

Bad Boy Bubby

I'm going against the grain here - no, IT is not suitable for a 12yr old in book OR movie form!

I am a lifelong SK fan, I own every book he has ever written, some in multiple editions. I started reading SK when I was 11/12 and DS(12) also reads SK - but I have a list of the ones he's allowed to read and the ones he isn't.

The list was compiled with help from a fan club that I'm in so not just me being a bit prudish either.

IT is in the restricted section for the time being!

Seventeen?!

Fuck me.

Sorry, that's a bit rude I know, but come on. I realise I'm on the other side of the scale in this debate anyway, but that seems ridiculous to me. Do people have any idea what secondary schools are like, reading SK is probably far less than some of the stuff they hear/see there! (Alright no giant evil clowns but the language etc is way worse).

At 17 my DS was writing about Irvine Welsh for his A levels. Fair play to him.

I read that at about age 12 - don’t think my parents realised that there was an underage sex orgy at the end.... I wouldn’t let my child read it. Most other Stephen King I would be less concerned about, but def not IT!!!!

Do you know what? I revise my earlier opinion. I started reading SK at about that age and loved the books. I think the scene just went over my head. I was far more worried about the monster.

That said, I think he is a significantly better short story writer.

@WeBuiltCisCityOnSexistRoles Yup. I am more scared of local 12 year olds than murderous clown tbh. At least with him you know what's up

I have to ask. Are people saying no to a book which has like, not even joking, 1000 pages because there are few pages with underaged orgy? Maybe it would be a good business to make a kid friendly version with just 990 pages. Or is it just that it can be quite scary?

@SarahTancredi i think it was more of a symptom of her weirdness than the cause.