What age would you think Northen LIghts was appropriate for a child/young person to read or have it read to them?

[queenceleste]

My sister's been given it for her daughter (8) and feels she's much too young.

I think it's too young. I'm currently reading it to DS2, who's nearly 10, and a lot of the metaphysical/religious stuff goes way over his head. I think 10 or 11 is probably the youngest, if they were very perceptive and mature in their understanding.

My 10 year old is reading the series at the moment. She is on The Subtle Knife. She is really enjoying it. I don't think she has to understand it all, just enjoy it at he own level.

I'd say about 10ish because the language used is relatively complex.

I asked the same question sometime ago and my 10.5 year old dd is reading amber spyglass and absolutely loving it.

as soon as they can read it by themselves. they may not catch every resonance, but then - does every adult reader?

Totally depends on the child, I always think it's a good idea to have lots of different books about and let the child grow into them. It is a good feeling when you discover something for yourself, and it doesn't matter greatly if what you discover is exactly what another reader would have found in the same book. A book gift is not a mistake because the book does not get read at once.

is not exactly

I'd say 10 or 11+ for Northern Lights and leave the Subtle Knife (thrid book) til quite a bit older.

The Subtle Knife is the second book.

My 8 year old stepson read them last year. He found them interesting but hard work, and a lot went over his head. I think he'll return to them.

I read the first two at nine/ten and then waited ages for the Amber Spyglass to come out (thirteen). I think waiting let me revisit the first two often and I understood more of the adult themes than before. I certainly wouldn't give the Amber Spyglass to anyone under a mature twelve/average thirteen. A lot of that book disturbed me slightly. They were my favourites at the time though.

I wrote my dissertation on these books and there is so much to them! I would also say 10 but they may not get it all

DS1 read them at 8 and enjoyed them, he has however just reread them aged 11 and understood them on a different level.

He is however a very mature reader and I'm not sure I would let DS2 read them next year when he is 8.

Dd who h is 10 read it but got bored with the third book _ may be she did not get everything and did not finish it. so it really depends on the child.

I got bored with the third book because there was some pretty crap writing in there (those mulefas, pleeaase )