Dragonlance Chronicles, ok for kids?

[*Robin*]

Hi everyone...my DS (12) has asked that we stop by the bookstore and pick up the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis for our drive down to Florida. (one of his friends just got the set, so he thinks it would be great to read them at the same time...)

I'm not familiar with the series at all, has anyone read them, or have knowledge of them?

They have great reviews on Amazon, but nothing about an age group...

Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[dkdaisy]

I've read the Dragonlance Chronicles and they may be okay for a 12 year old, as long as he's pretty experienced at reading. By that I mean they have an adult vocabulary in them and some larger/more complex words and paragraphs than you will typically find in young adult works.

As for content, there's some fighting/war type of stuff (so some violence), no swearing (at least in English - ocassionally characters swear in their "native" tongue), and very little sexual content (mostly relating to "she's pretty, we should get married, I love him" type of stuff, no descriptions of sexual acts, etc).

I was a very advanced reader at 12 and I probably could have handled them, but a lot of my friends couldn't have (not because of the content but because of the complexity of the writing and the story).

They are a good story though. I hope he enjoys them if you decide to go for it!

Also, the Chronicles have 3 books I believe, but the Dragonlance "series" has tons of books - in the 20s or 30s - so be prepared for him to ask for more if he likes them.

 

[TriMom]

I agree with dkdaisy - nothing inappropriate for a 12 yo, but you need to be an avid reader. I personally loved them.

 

[barrett7890]

my husband read then when he was around that age and really enjoyed them (we have practically ever book!)

cami
x

 

[*Robin*]

Thank you so much dkDaisy!

He's a voracious reader (just read Brisingr in 2 and a half weeks - I thought THAT would be the book that would be the book he would take down to Florida)

I was mostly worried about ongoing adult themes, but this seems right up his alley...He loves a good storyline, I love to have him challenged, perfect!

Again, thanks so much!!

 

[*Robin*]

Cami & TriMom, you posted while I was typing Thank you too!!

 

[Laura]

Yup, go for it. It's totally fine for kids that age. They're very exciting to read, the characters are vivid, and the storyline is very interesting. They're written rather "cinematically"; it's easy to imagine what's going on. I think they're really accessible to kids for that reason. BTW, they have two authors, the other is Tracy Hickman.

DH saw the cover of Dragons of Autumn Twilight when he was about 12 or so and wanted to read that book so badly because of the characters on the cover. Thing was, he has terrible dyslexia, and struggled to read. This was the first time he was interested in reading a book. My MIL didn't care what the book was, she was just happy her son wanted to read something. She probably would have bought it for him if it had been a bodice ripper with a half-naked woman on the cover.

Anyway, DH loves to read partly because of these books. I always loved reading, and it came easy to me. It's a big deal for me that he loves it too, and I admire him because it's been so hard for him to learn. We actually had our wedding rings custom-made in the same design as the ring the character Laurana gave Tanis, per DH's request.

 

[dkdaisy]

Thank you so much dkDaisy!

He's a voracious reader (just read Brisinger in 2 and a half weeks - I thought THAT would be the book that would be the book he would take down to Florida)

I was mostly worried about ongoing adult themes, but this seems right up his alley...He loves a good storyline, I love to have him challenged, perfect!

Again, thanks so much!!

No problem Robin. I hope he enjoys them. I just finished Brisingr the other day (I had to reread Eragon and Eldest first). These books should take him a little longer - keep him occupied at least! I didn't read this series at 12, but I was reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series at 12 and loved it. I don't love the Dragonlance Chronicles as much as the Wheel of Time, but I did enjoy them.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Scurvy]

There's nothing really inapproriate, but if I remember correctly there are a few scenes where it's made obvious that two of the characters are sleeping together - no graphic detail though!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Both my brothers, nephew (17), BIL, read the series. It is huge.

Not sure of details though.

 

[*Robin*]

You guys are all wonderful Thank you!!

Laura, I'm glad your DH found something he could really sink his teeth into...whatever the inspiration is wonderful...bodice ripper or not! (DS read every one of the Magic Tree House books between kindergarten and 1st grade...I knew then that I'd better keep my library card up to date or I'd be not only broke, but have no room to walk in my house! Mainly because MY books took up all the bookshelves! Books are my drug of choice.)

My Bff has a dyslexic son...she found that if she got the audio book as well as the book and let him follow along, it helped quite a lot. I don't know if that would help in your DH's case...I'm sure he is past all that by now, but it's just an idea.

Daisy, I'm heading over to look up the Wheel of Time series. Thanks for the heads up!

You guys have saved me again... to everyone!

 

[dkdaisy]

You guys are all wonderful Thank you!!

Laura, I'm glad your DH found something he could really sink his teeth into...whatever the inspiration is wonderful...bodice ripper or not! (DS read every one of the Magic Tree House books between kindergarten and 1st grade...I knew then that I'd better keep my library card up to date or I'd be not only broke, but have no room to walk in my house! Mainly because MY books took up all the bookshelves! Books are my drug of choice.)

My Bff has a dyslexic son...she found that if she got the audio book as well as the book and let him follow along, it helped quite a lot. I don't know if that would help in your DH's case...I'm sure he is past all that by now, but it's just an idea.

Daisy, I'm heading over to look up the Wheel of Time series. Thanks for the heads up!

You guys have saved me again... to everyone!

Just to be up front - the Wheel of Time series has slightly more sexual content than the Dragonlance Chronicles. There are currently 11 books (the 12th should be out soon - the author died and his wife and ghost writer are finishing it). The first probably 3 or 4 have almost no sexual content except that they make it obvious that certain characters have a crush on each other and there's some flirting. After that (mostly after book 7) there is some sexual content with some of the main characters. Not big descriptions like in romance novels, but some talk, and you know that some of them are having sex. Just FYI.

I am a voracious reader too (I just spend $100 last weekend at a used bookstore and I have my own library in the house - its small, but I love it). I was reading the Boxcar Children before the middle of kindegarten and its stuck with me. I think its my parents fault - my dad read me The Hobbit as bedtime story when I was 4-5. My parents just told me that some things might be inappropriate, taught me right from wrong, and always encouraged me to ask questions or talk about things when I found them too "grownup" for me.

Anyway, all of this long drawn-out thing is my way of telling you that I think its great that you encourage your son in his reading habits because I think reading is the best addiction to have.

Have fun!