The weirdstone of brisingamen - too old for seven year old?

[virgil]

I remember reading it at school but would have been about eleven. Has anyone read it recently? Would it be ok for DS1 (7)?

We read it at junior school in Year 6, then did it again at senior school in Year 8. Many, many years ago! I loathed it with a vengeance, and would quite like to read it again now!

Yes, too old for 7 I would say. More like from 10/11 would be my thoughts depending on the person of course.

My dd was a bit spooked by it at around that age.

We read it aged about 8 or 9 at primary school and I've read it to my DS at the age of 8. He enjoyed but possibly because I was reading it to him and he wasn't reading it himself. I love it. We did start to read The Owl Service but he found that too creepy so we've put it to one side until he's a little older.

Probably a bit old, yes.

Ds aged 9 found it dull and tedious so we didn't finish it, don't think your average 7 year old would be more enamoured

Ds aged 9 found it dull and tedious so we didn't finish it, don't think your average 7 year old would be more enamoured

My dm read it to me and my sister when she was 7 and I was 4. I remember enjoying bits of it, but it was really too hard for me. My sister loved it and read the other one ("Moon of Gomrath"?) afterwards.

I read it about 8ish. Refused to read it again. Read lots other of his but not really my style. Think Red Shift my favourite of his when 11-12ish. Re-read Elidor recently and was totally shocked at the attitude and language of the parents. Went over my head as a child!

Might be a bit terrifying at seven - have you considered the Susan Cooper 'The Dark is Rising' series instead maybe? Or The Hobbit?

Too scary I think. I was also scared witless by Susan Cooper at 8ish. Try the Lloyd Alexander chronicles of Prydain maybe?

Depends partly on the child, partly on how much you think it matters if bits go over their head. I read all sorts of "too old" books when I was little and just took whatever I did understand out of them; it was still an enjoyable experience. You have to know the child to know what will frighten them: dd was terrified of ghosts, ds couldn't care less but was very worried by everyday stories where family members were even slightly cross with each other.

The Dark is Rising series is pretty spooky too IMO. It depends on the child really, how spookable they are.

You could read it aloud. I think that makes books more accessible to younger children when they're not quite ready to tackle them themselves. I read it aloud to a class of 10 -11 year olds - and did all the voices(!) - and they loved it!!

I think it depends very much on the 7yo - DD1 would have been spooked, DD2 would have loved it (I need to dig it out, DD2 is 9 now so not too old for it, DD1 is 11 and may also like it.)

Moon of Gomrath is if anything slightly scarier. Owl Service is scarier still, I liked Elidor but found it very bleak.

Try it. If it doesn't work, come back to it later.