Harry Potter IS bad for kids!

[Eventually]

I love the Potter books. Another fantasy series for young readers is The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander.

I'm curious as to why LOTR would be considered innappropriate for a young reader? Is it because of the content or is it the reading level?

 

[Ed]

Just yesterday she asked me if I would allow her to read LOTR yet.

I think she's too young for LOTR what do you think?


Toni

I tell my kids to give anything they want a crack but if it becomes a chore put it down. I think that it is important to let kids (and adults) have the permission to not plough through something that does not provide satisfaction.

 

[Eos of the Eons]

Perhaps too young, simply because of how complicated everything is the first time you read it. That said, I was 11 the first time, and have read it 20-30 times since. I do have a life, though. No, really. I do. Honest. Stop giggling.

My mom actually encouraged me to read it at that age, after I flew through the Hobbit.

I loved the Hobbit, but LOTR was mostly over my head. I got bored.

I should give it another try now though.

 

[Ove]

I'm curious. Other than Danish (I assume) what languages has it been translated into?

Probably most languages in the world. I remember seing Luciana (i think) saying that she waited for it in Spanish. I know it is translated into all nordic languages, Dutch, German, French, Italian and Japanese.

I am not embarrased to say that the fifth Harry Potter book captivated me. It's not just good writing for kids...it's good writing, period.

Hear hear.

Every time I see references to HP books here, first I stop myself and say "no, they're not all reading Lovecraft's schlock". Then I stop myself and say "no, they're not all reading the technical documentation for PCL 6."

If you don't like the books why are you reading a thread about them?

 

[Chaos]

I love the Potter books. Another fantasy series for young readers is The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander.

I'm curious as to why LOTR would be considered innappropriate for a young reader? Is it because of the content or is it the reading level?

Well, LOTR starts out pretty harmlessly, much like The Hobbit, but it has lots of scary points (scary for kids, at least).

"His Dark Materiels" might also be a bit scary, especially books 2+3.

Another suggestion:
The "Unicorn" novels, by Tanith Lee

 

[Eventually]

Oh, well that makes sense. I don't have much to do with kids, so I don't understance a lot of the "not appropriate for children" issues. I remember what I read as a kid, and that's my only frame of reference. Of course, I was a weird little kid.

 

[Flame]

I love the Potter books. Another fantasy series for young readers is The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander.

I'm curious as to why LOTR would be considered innappropriate for a young reader? Is it because of the content or is it the reading level?

I think it could be quite scary for an 8 year old girl with a wild imagination...
I know what you mean though, I read everything when i were a young girl - I guess I was a bit of a weird child too

Toni

 

[eowyn]

Another set suitable for children is Susan Cooper's "The Dark is Rising" set.



I'm now in a dilemna. What do I read tonight? Harry Potter #3 or "The Dark is Rising"?

 

[Trollbane]

I would recommend Roald Dahls production.. After all the HP books are heavily influenced by them.

 

[Kevin_Lowe]

I second the motion on Susan Cooper and The Dark Is Rising.

Diana Wynne Jones is another amazing children's fantasy author.

(I actually like both of these author's work better than the Harry Potter books).

 

[VicDaring]

As I understand it, before Potter came along the Redwall series by Brian Jacques was pretty much king of the mountain.

I have given them as gifts a few times and they've been very well received. Even after Potter, the series has remained popular, so that must say something.

I had the opportunity to meet Brian Jacques a few years ago. Cool guy!

Another series worth looking at is the Chronicles of Pern, by Anne McCaffery. I've heard/read good things about this one, and got a couple of the books for my nephew last Christmas. Still awaiting a review.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I was 13 when I read The Stand. Didn't finish it in two days or anything like that, but that was some creepy reading for a 7th grader.

 

[Valiant Dancer]

I started reading Stephen Kings "Christine" around the same age. No headaches, but some sleeplessness. First because I couldn't put the book down, then because I was afraid to turn out the lights (finished the book at dawn)

I had a similar experience with Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulu".

I think that the Harry Potter series is very well written. It just seems a little simplistic for me. I'm more used to Lord of the Rings and Salvatore's Forgotten Realms series. In particular, the dark elf set.

As a primer to better fanatsy works, HP does very well.

 

[scribble]

As I understand it, before Potter came along the Redwall series by Brian Jacques was pretty much king of the mountain.

I have given them as gifts a few times and they've been very well received. Even after Potter, the series has remained popular, so that must say something.

I had the opportunity to meet Brian Jacques a few years ago. Cool guy!

Seconded.

 

[Frostbite]

Those children are wimps.