Is "Twilight" book appropriate for 7th grader?

[allison443]

My dd is in 7th grade, just turned 12, a few of her friends are talking about the Twilight book. She wants to buy it tomorrow at the bookstore.
I know the general story of the book, but do you think it is appropriate for that age group? Looking online, I saw one recommendation for 9th grade and up, another said age 13 and up.
My older dd and her friends have read them, but they are in college.

I checked over on the Twilight thread but I got intimidated because it is over 100 pages!!

Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[rascalmom]

I think it is - I read all of them a few months ago.

I think the first two are fine - the last one goes a little further & it would depend on the child.

My 16 y.o. dd read them too - she loves all of them.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

If you go to the Twilight thread and read the last three pages you can see where we just had this discussion.

 

[mfd25wife]

The third book is where they get a little suggestive, IMO. I hope this helps.

 

[MoniqueU]

I am of the mind that if they can read it and want to let them read it. I don't censor what my kids read or even look up what it is about. That's just me though. I believe all reading is good. My DD is in 6th and has read the books, no problem from me or her teacher.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I posted this in response to this topic on the Twilight thread:

Kids overlook what they don't understand. I started reading the Sword of Truth series when I was 11. It has rape, disembowelment, premarital sex, gay relationships, the works. My parents never read it or really talked about it with me that much. I actually got the first book from our middle school library.

When I was in 4th grade I started reading every book I could find about AIDS, which I'm sure as you can imagine had lots of information about gay sex and intravenous drugs in it. I look back now and think how I would never let a young kid read htese kinds of books. Then I look at the books I read as a kid and how I jsut glossed over that type of thing. These are pretty clean books, there is nothing explicit about them at all. If you are concerned, read them with your daughter so you can discuss, but maybe let her drive the discussion. There's no need to have a lengthy disucsison on something she didn't even notice.

The first two books are pretty clean. They kiss a little bit and he stays in her room with her, but the idea of something inappropriate isn't even there. Book 3 they start talking about it and get suggestive, book 4 is when there is actually some action on that front (which takes place after marriage). However, it is very clean. The author is Mormon.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Twilight is VERY appropriate for ALL Children who can read at that level. I work as a before/after school care teacher and we have children as young as 4th grade reading these books. The most you encounter is kissing and while there is a bit more in book 4 it is so non descript that most young readers wont even really understand it. It is by no means a play by play version! HTH!

 

[allison443]

I posted this in response to this topic on the Twilight thread:



The first two books are pretty clean. They kiss a little bit and he stays in her room with her, but the idea of something inappropriate isn't even there. Book 3 they start talking about it and get suggestive, book 4 is when there is actually some action on that front (which takes place after marriage). However, it is very clean. The author is Mormon.

Thank you, I did take your suggestion and I found the discussion on the Twilight thread (I should have started at the end of the thread, not the beginning, then I would have found it! )

It was very helpful. Thank you for the details.

 

[allison443]

I am of the mind that if they can read it and want to let them read it. I don't censor what my kids read or even look up what it is about. That's just me though. I believe all reading is good. My DD is in 6th and has read the books, no problem from me or her teacher.

I am a big proponent of reading (oldest dd turned out to be an English major, as I was!!). I don't think it's wrong to find out a general idea of what the kids are reading, just like I don't allow her to watch Gossip Girl on tv, there might be something I don't think is appropriate for her to read.
She does like to read The Clique series, but I have told her she is not allowed to become obsessed with brand names based on those books!

 

[allison443]

Thanks everyone for the responses, they were very helpful. I will take her to get the book tomorrow.
I wonder what the movie will be rated?

 

[Rella Bella]

Most of the girls in DS 7th grade class have read it. The girl moms were all talking about the excitement when book 3 came out... which must mean some of them read it in 6th grade.

I'm sure some of the boys too but not DS.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I imagine the movie will be PG-13 due to the violence. You see a lot more of the fight scene in the movie than you do in the book.

 

[IDoDis]

My 7th grade 12yo DD finished all four books. I researched the books a bit first and agreed she could read them. Her book got passed on to a few friends, and then on to her gifted language arts teacher. My only gripe is that I had to buy all 4 books (which got shared) while others got to read DD's books for free! I told DD to see if another mom could buy book 3 or 4 and then share with her, but that didn't happen. Oh well! DD is now rereading book 1.

BTW, whereever I find her book in the house, I notice that the dictionary is close by. After reading part of this thread I had a brief moment because nothing gets by DD. After reading the other posts though, I feel fine about her reading the books.

She can't wait for the movie which is due out in a few weeks. I don't generally let her see PG-13 movies so I don't know if she'll get to see it just yet. I'll have to read the reviews first.

I bought books 1 and 2 at Sam's Club pretty cheap and got books 3 and 4 from Amazon pretty cheap w/ free shipping.

 

[MoniqueU]

I am a big proponent of reading (oldest dd turned out to be an English major, as I was!!). I don't think it's wrong to find out a general idea of what the kids are reading, just like I don't allow her to watch Gossip Girl on tv, there might be something I don't think is appropriate for her to read.
She does like to read The Clique series, but I have told her she is not allowed to become obsessed with brand names based on those books!

Well add me to the bad moms club then because gossip girl is my girls favorite show. I don't own a trampoline though so hopefully it balances out.

 

[allison443]

Well add me to the bad moms club then because gossip girl is my girls favorite show. I don't own a trampoline though so hopefully it balances out.

I'm curious if you have watched Gossip Girl yourself? I have, when my high schooler is watching it. If you have then I guess we differ on what is appropriate for tweens, oh well, your kid, your choice.


I don't have a trampoline either. Totally different issue imo.