Would you let your 9-11 year old read a book that mentioned guns?

[NordicNobody]

No violence or shooting or anything like that, but if there was, say, a soldier or an FBI agent or something like that who carried a gun, would you be ok with that?

Absolutely!

Yes

I'm pretty sure you're not going to able to conceal the fact that guns exist and are a thing.

Yes.

Of course . Why wouldn't you?

I would possibly try to hold it back to 10/11 but I'm not sure you'll manage it. What about historical things? You'd rule out perfectly good authors like Michael Morpurgo

Of course. Bizarre that anyone would even consider this to be a potential issue.

Eh? Course. At 9/10/11-ish dd's favourite books were the Murder most unladylike series; Young Bond and Ruby Redford. Alongside less violent options like The Secret Garden and His Dark materials to be fair.

Yes! Why on earth wouldn't you be ok with it?

Yes why wouldn't I?

If you have an enthusiastic reader of 9+, the kid is about ready to make his/her own choices when it comes to books. And 9 is certainly old enough to be aware that guns exist. Why would you think it's something they should be banned from reading about?

Famous Five have guns in... in fact my dd1 at 6yo defined guns as "the thing the baddies wave towards the Famous Five at the end of the story."

Yes, my 8 yo has just read a book about Nelson. He got shot, and died.
In fact, there was a lot of violence, ships being burned, cannon fire, his arm being chopped off without anesthetic.

Of course. Whyever not?

What an absolutely ridiculous question. Have they never watched the news, either? Do they know nothing about the world we live in?

Eeerr why not??

Don't some toys come holding guns..like action figures ??

Oh dear, didn't mean to cause a stir! Maybe I should have been clearer - I don't have any problem with it, I'm writing a story for young readers and was trying to gauge if this might be something that would put parents off buying the book/ others in the series! My SIL for example won't even let her DC play pretend Star Wars games with lightsabres. But ok, good to know it's not something that would put people off!

I hadn't noticed this was in Creative Writing!! Feel guilty about my meanie reply now @NordicNobody !! As a fellow upper MG writer, a huge pet peeve of mine is how some writers tend to talk down to and patronise children so this question really got under my skin. I imagined a pearl-clutching parent with cotton wool wrapped DCs

All the best with your book. FWIW my upper MG book also mentions guns and someone carries a knife as a weapon. I really think it's fine. If it's an issue your agent or editor will navigate you in editing it out. But I highly doubt they would.

I’m a teacher and lots of year 5 boys (9-10) devour Alex Rider books....

Of course.

Haha no worries NameChange, I don't come to MN for the kid gloves . I'm right there with you on the pearl clutching parents btw. Thanks for the advice

My 13 yo son is obsessed with guns and all things military, always has been. I have bought him books on military history, war history, guns and warfare. As a results, he is under no illusions as to the issues regarding war and guns. But he has learned lots of history and physics in the meantime.

these in particular

www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Illustrated-Pistols-Revolvers-Machine/dp/0754823768/ref=pd_sim_14_6?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforum-21&refRID=95S3RC6J6P39421X6943

www.amazon.co.uk/Military-History-Book-Dorling-Kindersley/dp/140938344X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=military+history&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1524815599&sr=8-3

Sorry, not the top one, this one, it's DK

www.amazon.co.uk/Firearms-Illustrated-History-Definitive-Visual/dp/1409347974/ref=pd_cp_14_1?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforum-21&refRID=9PKYF10A45EM07SERBP8

As a children's book editor, I'd say the main character cannot USE a gun, but older characters can. Look at Robert Muchamore's CHERUB books (which are for around that age group).