Childrens books too graphic?

[miggy]

DH accidentally bought me "shadowmancer" for my birthday, thinking it was an adult book. I thought I would read it and pass it on to DS. Well its horrible, read 2 chapters and stopped. Really scary, storms with children being dashed to their deaths on rocks and a candle made from the severed hand of a murderer, dipped in wax. Like something you would see in a horror film. Then I found on another thread that the amber spyglass has children having sex. Enid blyton must be turning in her grave! I know children grow up faster these days etc etc but I wouldnt allow them to watch this sort of thing on tv but have encouraged reading-just didnt know how graphic the books were. what do you think?

What age group are they aimed at???

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Phew!! I thought they meant kids as in primary school age!!!

Well if its aimed at teenagers and young adults then I don't think I see the real problem here... I mean some of the age 15 films are quite voilent and have a sexual element.

I read and wrote an essay on "The Silence Of The Lambs" as part of my English Higher when I was 14/15 yrs old!!!

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that the problem M2T, "aimed at teenagers/young adults"- well how do you know, its in the childrens section of the book shop and in the school library so nothing to stop my 10yr old reading it (as he has-whoops!). Yes I wouldnt let him see a 15 film but hard to tell with books. May have to read them all first (dont think I can face that though!) I know we all read sexy/horror book as young teenagers, I remember reading a Harold Robbins book and being fascinated but it was an adult book, my mum would have killed me had she known, but the point is, it was an "adult" book and she didnt buy it for me.

Agree with twiglett, the Amber Spyglass (and other 2 books in the trilogy) are brilliant. I started reading them about two years ago when my dad bought the first one for my (then) 14 year old daughter's Christmas. Unfortunately, her idea of serious reading is Miz or Now magazine so I read it instead and was hooked!
Like twiglett says, the sex in the Amber Spyglass isn't 'overt' and I doubt that younger children would be aware of it.

I would feel uneasy about my 9 year old reading The Amber Spy glass. I agree that there is nothing explicit in it, but he would find the emotions very confusing.

I do think that bookshps and libraries should make it much clearer that the subject matter in some books is more suitable for older children and teenagers. It is ironic that my son cannot take out an ager 12 recommended video film on his library ticket yet can take out The Amber Spyglass without any problem.

I don't think books like Shadowmancer and His Dark Materials which due to sheer bulk of text on page are presumably aimed at over 10s are the problem. I've had far more trouble with Jaqueline Wilson who has books seemingly targetted at the pre-teen age group but then has things like mum slitting wrists in the bath (Dustbin Baby) - I must admit this freaked me out and I was glad I'd vetted it before giving to my 8 yr old