to think Coram Boy is not a suitable book for year 7s

[vegetaria]

My 11 year old had night mares last night and is afraid to go to sleep tonight.

For anyone who doesn't know it is about a man who buys unwanted children in the UK in the 1700s, and sells them into slavery if they are above 5, or kills them by burying them alive if they are younger, and it describes several scenes of babies being buried alive and other harrowing events

Its the class book at the moment

It sounds awful but all the reviews say age 10/11 plus.

It’s marketed as generally suitable for 10+, with some reviewers suggesting 11 or 12+ so I would have thought Year 7 or 8 is about the perfect age for it.

What books does your DC usually read? I’m presuming you’ve read Coram Boy yourself - can you discuss it with your DC to help them understand the context?

Are they reading ever more shocking things in the hope of retaining interest from bored 12 year olds?

I think I read it at that age, maybe year 8. Not at school though, something I chose myself. I can see why your daughter is upset if she is sensitive as it has some pretty dark themes. I think there is also a teenage pregnancy, maybe a sex scene (can't remember details as it's been 20yrs) since I read it.

Unfortunately I don't think the school will change what they study so just encourage her to see it as a total work of fiction.

I don't know this book, but looking it up on wikipedia, I see both that it is described as a children's book and that it had won a children's book award.

Presumably the descriptions are not extremely graphic and full of gore, just the horror of what is happening?

I think your child is unusually sensitive or just had a strong reaction, and will soon be fine.

Just reading ops post re the content of the book I'm disturbed. Why do they need to study it?

Missing the point, but why would you pay for a child only to bury it alive?

Took my DDs to see it at the theatre around that age, they were totally mesmerised by it

I don't know the book but most of the reviews suggest it's aimed at around 10-12year olds, so I'd have thought that Year 7 was about right?

On the Scholastic books page it says “The Coram Man takes babies from desperate mothers. They pay him to take their little ones safely to a foundling hospital in London.” So I think he does it to get the money, it’s the other way round he doesn’t pay for the child.

It's a brilliant book and the themes are dealt with beautifully and sensitively - I read it in year 7-8. It's based on real historical events and not gory/gratuitous at all though it is very sad. I went to see it at the theatre a year or two later - the entire audience was in tears

That makes more sense. Horrible, of course. The OP says he buys the children, that was my confusion.

@steff13 the antagonist in the book takes money from unmarried, desperate girls for taking their babies to the Foundling Hospital in London but instead kills them. The novel is 23 years old now and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. It's fictional but contains lots of fascinating historical details. In my opinion, its an excellent story for children of 11+.

“For anyone who doesn't know it is about a man who buys unwanted children in the UK”

I think if you can get such a basic part of it wrong, it’s not really a useful thread.

You also make it sound like that’s the sole thread in the book, and it isn’t.

11 is old enough. Some children are more sensitive than others, but you can’t remove all good literature for that age because of a minority.

I recommend you either read it ti discuss with him, or at least read a synopsis online to understand the events better.

We read Stone Cold when I was in Year 7, possibly Year 8 - about a guy who murders homeless kids off the street and buries them under the floorboards…😬

sorry, he doesn't buy children, he is paid to transport unwanted babies to good orphanages, but doesn't bother, just digs pits and chucks them in

yes I read it , but how does discussing it or discussing the "context" help? I personally find it sickening and deeply disturbing myself

It is completely irrelevant why the babies are being thrown alive into graves, isn't it. The story itself pales into total insignificance really . It is just horrible, and the blurb claims these scenes are historically accurate

Yes! What’s that about?!

It is truly awful, and I can't imagine why it is considered suitable for children. I now have an 11 year old refusing to go to school today because they have English, and asking around my friends last night one of my friends has a daughter who still cries about it occasionally and she is in year 11 now, and read it in year 8

No wonder there is a mental health crisis in schools if this is what they are being forced to learn about

It isn't really "good literature" if the story is irrelevant and no one cares or remembers it, is it. It is about how and why one baby is saved, and what happens to them, but as I said, no one cares when literally hundreds are being tortured and murdered

Speak to the teacher rather than posting on MN. You could ask to know the topics and texts in advance if they are not already provided (for DD Y8 we had a parents' meeting in Sep. where we were told all of the literature texts, plus info. on the other subjects, can also look in books. DS' school shares a curriculum map at the start of the year for the relevant year group and they are all on the secure area of the website in detail with a broader strokes version on the public area.)

Of course these things are upsetting, but they are also historic. At secondary school it's appropriate that students learn about history (and other things) even if it's hardhitting. Discuss with your son to help him understand the context and give him a place to express his feelings and be heard, and encourage him to do something relaxing before going to bed.

I totally get you OP. We do A Monster Calls, but I have to do a different book as my mum died when I was young, and I can't read out the final chapters.

The problem is, primary schools now teach most of the classic books that we used to do with Year 7. I read Rundell's The Explorer instead of A Monster Calls but lots of students have already read it lower down school. Schools end up having to pick more grown up novels to ensure they're reading something that is new to students.

Bring back Holes I say!

Oh - I remember this book now. I think the gruesomeness is balanced by the characters who come through. It’s a very good piece of writing, and very evocative of an era in history.

I think most 11 year olds would manage it fine - they see enough of the news to know bad things happen. If it’s making your daughter anxious have a chat with her teacher - I don’t think they are going to chance the book for one child, but they can help you talk to her about it.