Is the 7th Harry Potter book too grown up and scary?

[Whathappenedtothelego]

Dc is 8, year 4. First discovered Harry Potter books two or three years ago (older sibling was a fan), but I didn't allow reading past the third book as "too grown up".

This year, I have relaxed my rule, and Dc has just finished the sixth book.

Now I'm not sure whether the 7th book is still a bit too grown up - Dc did have a bad dream about some of the HP characters last night, and is generally quite a sensitive soul. But maybe not allowing it makes it into a bigger deal, whereas reading it allows some resolution.

What do others think? Reasonable to ban the last book having come so far (and absolutely loved the previous books)?

It covers genocide but he will be learning about the Holocaust in school. Maybe read it yourself and see.

I think it's fine for 8 personally.

I am reading it to my yr 1 6yr old. He's fine with it, but we have read together through them all over the last few months.

If he's read the rest then it's probably no worse (IMO the 5th book is the most scary, but a lot of that is situation based rather than described).
But if he's already having nightmares then I would perhaps think twice. As a compromise, maybe you could read together?

I tried to stop ds at book 5 but he sneaked books 6 & 7. He is 9. Doesn't seem to have given him nightmares and he's read the whole series twice now.

Hmm still not sure. Dc actually still thinks the 2nd one is the most scary - I think because of the snake. And I think the 7th one has a snake coming out of someone's mouth or something? Which I think will be traumatic.

Reading together might be a good compromise. Or at least reading that bit together.

My highly sensitive 8 year old has read them all with no bad effects -- but we read them together so we could talk through anything disturbing. I think he was most disturbed by the ill-thought-through 'whatever number of years on' epilogue, because it made them all seem so dull.

The one I found most scary at that age was the 4th with the graveyard scene. I didn't give the snake in the 7th much thought - it wasn't described as scarily as it is portrayed in the film. The best book of the series in my opinion, and as you said you can always read bits with him if that will help.

They do get darker as they go on. But if he’s coped with the deaths in books 5 and 6 I would say he’ll be fine with 7.

Oh ok, this is interesting. DD has just turned eight and has read the first two books on repeat. She’s desperate to read the rest, and says all her friends have, but both my sisters said from book three onwards they’re too disturbing. I’ve not read them myself, so asked for advice in a book shop and was told it was probably better to wait. Am I being too over-protective?

Sometimes, a child may not be scared by a book because they don't fully understand it. Other children just don't get scared by books.

Personally, we are spacing them out as I think they would get more enjoyment out of them when they are a bit older. (Currently 7& nearly 9).

I read them with ds when he was 8/9, he was also very 'sensitive' to stuff. I remember having to 'edit' the last book as I was reading it - it was just too grim in parts.

I don't think it's a good book anyway and pretty depressing but now you've started them you'll probably have to finish!

Wait till Dc is older. Not so much because book 7 is scary but because it is philosophically very rich and deep. At an older age, Dc will appreciate it more, having had exposure to more classic literature in depth (Bible, Greek/Roman classics, King Arthur etc.) and more life experience in general (friends, jealousy, etc).

I'd say if they want to read them, let them read. It's so special being able to immerse yourself in a saga.
My two can manage their fear reading books, but my DD10 can't bear even the slightest bit of suspense in a film.
They may well get more out of it when they are older, but they can always re-read them, and I'm sure they will if they enjoy them.
DD10 has just finished Lord of the Rings and I'm going to put her on His Dark Materials next, but in the meantime she is back to HP.