To let DD read Goblet of Fire

[Karlkennedyslovechild]

I don’t know so I’m throwing it out to the people in my phone to make my decision for me. DD turned 7 last month and has always been a reasonable reader but has really taken off since lockdown. She’s read all of Mallory Towers and can polish off a secret seven or Worst Witch in an evening. I’m running out of reading material and really miss the library.
We read the first 3 Harry Potters together probably around the end of last year and she loves it. A couple of months ago she asked if she could read them again to herself and I agreed. Now she’s pestering for book 4. Part of me thinks she’s too young but she has never been upset or scared by anything she’s read. Am I being too protective to say she has to wait? Realistically this will then lead on to books 5,6,etc.

So yes - I am a terrible negligent mother letting her read inappropriate material
No - go for it.

Well, I think she'll get more enjoyment if she waits a while, but that's what you get with starting them aged 6. They aren't really aimed at infants age.
What will you do when she wants to watch the 12 rated later films when she is only 7?

I reckon I’ll be in your shoes in a year. I’ve read book 1 to then 5 and a half year old DD, currently reading book 2 at just turned 6. The only thing I recall is the word bastard appearing at some point in book 4 or 5 maybe?

They do get darker as they progress though. Have you read them? I’d skim through it myself first or get a comprehensive summary so you can make an informed call.

Personally I would let her since she’s already started the series, I was pretty young when I read them too!

I'd say no. It's a big step up from Azkaban to Goblet of Fire, because of what happens near the end. I'm assuming you've read it already, so you'll know what I'm talking about.

Yes I know them well which is why I’m hesitating. I agree she’d get more out of them later but I imagine she may well re-read them when older.

My 7 year old has read Goblet of Fire and Order of the Pheonix. I worried that they got darker and would scare her but she's really enjoyed them and tells me it's not scary once the book is shut so I've let her crack on. She might enjoy them more when shes older but I'm sure she'll read them again at some point.

I'm just wondering about an alternative, say the Narnian series?

I sympathise, mine were much the same, but there is a big jump between those books!

YABU. They’re not aimed at her age; she shouldn’t really have started the series at all yet.

It's really really tricky with an early reader and getting appropriate but stretching material.

Books don't really have an age rating the same as film, so I don't think that's a fair comparison -
Is there a different series or author she could try? Michael Morpurgo? Ronald Dahl?

If she has read Prisoner of Azkaban..with Dementors which I found quite scary I would be letting her read Goblet of Fire.

Mine did at that age but there’s a big difference between being able to read something and fully comprehending it. She’s re-reading all the HPs now aged 10 and properly enjoying them.
I don’t think there’s any harm in it OP but no real benefit either .

She’ll reread them when she’s older. If you don’t let her read it, she’ll be all the more intrigued. Forbidden fruit and all that. I’d let her but I was a very negligent mother and let mine read all sorts.

Yes I’m happy to find alternatives to delay it! She’s read about half of Dahl and not interested in the others (no idea why). We have the Narnia series but I imagine they’re fairly tricky? I haven’t read them since childhood but remember struggling. We had one Michael Morpurgo from the library, can’t remember what, but she wasn’t a massive fan.

It,s quite a big read for a 7 year old, I know 7 year olds who read Harry Potter at that age though.

If she can do Harry Potter, she can do Narnia.

What about the Classic Starts series? My girls got so much out of that, it's classics rewritten (well) for children. She might like things like Ballet Shoes? It really depends what she's into. Mine loved things like Chalet School, Ruby Ferguson's Jill series, that sort of thing.

What about the Hobbit?

I would look for something else. There are so many wonderful children's books. I would look for stories based in other magical worlds. The Narnia stories, Land of stories, how to train your dragon, etc.

We liked “Wizards of Once” by Cressida Cowell and the subsequent books in the series. My 8 year old has read them by herself but I’ve read them to my 6 year old and it’s just the right amount of scary to be gripping but not lead to nightmares imo.

Can I recommend Diana Wynne Jones. Her Chrestomanci series series are magical and magical worlds linked by a charismatic character called Chrestomanci. She also wrote Howl's Moving Castle. She has other books for older children too. An under rated writer.

Or the Redwall books by Brian Jacques

No. Too young. My 6 year old is desperate to start reading the series and is a great reader, I've said no.
Have you tried Clarice Bean or Ottoline or Five Find Outer and Fog Series?

I would probably start her on Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, or the Worst Witch. Lightning Girl by Aleesha Dixon is great too.

I'm not convinced that re reading them when older is the same experience as discovering them first at the appropriate age.
(But I know I tend to be quite conservative on this compared with most.)

@Alsohuman

She’ll reread them when she’s older. If you don’t let her read it, she’ll be all the more intrigued. Forbidden fruit and all that. I’d let her but I was a very negligent mother and let mine read all sorts.

Me too 😂 my parents let me read anything in the house & while I’m a little more cautious, I do believe that reading ahead of your age appropriate material is what makes you a good, life long reader and is excellent for your vocabulary, and literacy skills in general.