At what age do you let your teens read "adult" books?

[MNdisneymom]

I don't have a girl (I have one DS, 6) but I checked this thread out because that was me at the same age. {I read James Michener's Hawaii when I was in 6th grade because I liked history and we were going there....} My mother pretty much let me read anything, with the exception of her Danielle Steele collection. (I snuck one and read it anyway---and was tremendously bored, but then again I was 12.)

I still read YA fiction for fun now--less brain draining, and some darn good writing as well. I can recommend anything by Tamora Pierce, especially for girls. She writes strong female-centered storylines.

As for re-reading stuff you read years ago...this may make me a complete dork, but I still re-read the entire Little House series (the originals, not all the extras) once a year.

 

[wishtdream]

OP- I think its great that you are watching what your child reads. Your DD sounds like me when I was a kid. I would continue to watch, read and discuss. This way your DD does not hide from you and it opens and maintains lines of communication into which you can insert your values. My 6yr old DD learned about Chastity Bono's Sex change the other day on the six thirty news. I must say that the anchor gave a very unbiased informative presentation on gender reassignment surgery. The world has changed and unless we keep our kids in a bubble we must be willing to keep the lines of communication open and help our kids understand the world around them.

On a lighter note I just bought Superfudge for DD to read. She was super excited when I told her I read it when I was young.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Little House books led me to Anne of Green Gables....oh how I loved that series. I may have to read it again

 

[RMulieri]

I guess I am a lenient parent because I would allow my daughter to read it...I was reading Stephen King and alot worse at her age.My Mom was of the frame of mind that it was ok for me to read it and to come to her with any questions.

 

[lattemomof3]

I am feeling a bit old fashioned here, but I don't think I'll let dd read adult books until she's in h.s.. I think we are so desensitized to sex, violence and Brittany Spears type celebs that we are letting our kids grow up faster than we did. I know my dd will see and hear lots of things I wish she would'nt, from t.v., the news, radio, friends, etc, when she's not at home, but I don't think it's censorship to have some input on what she's watching and reading. I would'nt judge others for letting their kids choose what to read, most of my dd's friends watch mtv, so far dd has'nt discovered it yet (she is 10), just offering my perspective.

 

[holden]

I read many "bad" books in 7th & 8th grade - Flowers in the Attic, Forever, Stephen King, etc. All of those were passed around our class. I turned out just fine.

BTW...I am a high school English teacher.

 

[poegirl30]

Another middle school English teacher! When my dd was about 12-13, she read The Lovely Bones after I read it, and she loved it, but she's always been a reader. It actually started a great conversation, that has led to many other great conversations about different books.

It is really nice to be able to talk to her about books that she's reading, and typically we trade books once finished with one.

BTW...I still have quite a few of my Trixie Belden books from when I was a kid. My dd loved them when she was younger too!
That was a great series.

 

[DVCLiz]

Another middle school English teacher! When my dd was about 12-13, she read The Lovely Bones after I read it, and she loved it, but she's always been a reader. It actually started a great conversation, that has led to many other great conversations about different books.

It is really nice to be able to talk to her about books that she's reading, and typically we trade books once finished with one.

BTW...I still have quite a few of my Trixie Belden books from when I was a kid. My dd loved them when she was younger too!
That was a great series.

Sadly, neither of my daughters would touch a Trixie Belden, even though I think I literally begged them to. DD20 might have read one of them just to humor me. But they were both much more into the "strong girls in medieval times" fiction that was really popular in their growing up years - The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword, Catherine, Called Birdy and The Midwife's Apprentice, etc. etc.

Even today if they want to tease me they'll reply to a question with "Gleeps, Moms!" They know it irritates me but I have to laugh!!