A POLL: What do you think UNSUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS means on the back of a book?

[roisin]

A POLL: What do you think UNSUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS means on the back of this book?

So look at the cover, bear in mind the 'unsuitable for younger readers' warning which appears (unobtrusively) on the back cover. What age would you think it is "suitable" for?

This is the blurb from Random House's website. Any help?

As if school bullies and his mum?s tofu sandwiches weren?t enough for Hector Brunty, he now has another dilemma: a talking brain tumour.
Henry Tumour turns out to be the perfect alter-ego, advising Hector on haircuts, high-fashion, and tactics for snogging the best-looking girl in school, Uma Upshaw. Controlling his speech and brain chemicals is quite enough, but soon Henry Tumour is trying to make more decisions about Hector?s life than he?d like.
Can Hector overpower his tumour in order to get what he really wants . . . before they both go under the knife?

Thanks PA - that is on the sleeve of the book, so could inform potential readers. I've just read it, so I know the answer. But I want to know what mumsnetters think just from seeing the cover, the warning, and the 'blurb' (thanks for the blurb).

from the title and the front illustration I would assume 15 year olds and over

I think the illustration looks like it would be a perfect story for my 10 year old son, the only thing I would baulk at is the use of the word 'tumour' - it might have made me think twice!

Judging by the blurb and the cover illustration, I'd say it was probably suitable for teenagers.

Also noticed that it is the winner of the 2006 Booktrust Teenage Prize, but I'm assuming that info is not on the book.

Did you enjoy reading it, roisin? I haven't come across it before.

Speaking as someone who was reading H.P Lovecraft at 12, I don't think many readers over the age of 9 can be phased by too much.

Well, Twiglett is closest I reckon!

It's a great book - one of the better teenage books I've come across in a while, and I will certainly recommend it to 14+ at school, but not for younger children.

It includes some serious language, and some fairly explicit scenes (violence/bullying and sex/relationships). I'm just pleased I got to it before ds1 (9), but I think he might have been turned off by the relationships theme early on anyway.

Colditz - generally I'm with you and do very little censorship of ds1's reading these days. But just occasionally I'm brought up short when he's picked up a book which has clearly attracted him - cover, title, and the display about the Booktrust Teenage Prize in the library, which proves to be quite inappropriate for him at this age.

You do have to be very careful. One of my DC (aged 7 at the time) wandered over to the teenage section at the library and chose a book. I didn't notice or check what he was reading until the next day when he asked what french kissing was. The book was totally unsuitable for a 7 year old!
DS3 (13) is reading Noughts & Crosses as a class reading book. I noticed it said 'unsuitable for younger readers'. I've no idea what it's about I must find time to read it!

Noughts and Crosses is superb notagrannyyet - I'm really pleased to hear it's a class reader, though a bit surprised at the age I have to say. I would put it at age 13-14 minimum: it is powerful stuff. The basic themes are racism and prejudice.

Do read it though, it's well worth it.