Is Twilight inappropriate for a 10 yo?

[npmommie]

I have not read any of the twilight books, so I have no clue.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

i'd give it a quick read and see how comfortable you are with the way the guy is scary controlling and the girl is beyond stupid. I voted "no." You may feel differently.

 

[gina2000]

I've read them I have 11 and 12 year olds reading them. They're completely ga-ga over the whole series...googly eyed and weepy, romantic and sappy. They gush over Edward and the whole relationship thing. They are obsessed with the idea of "romantic love". And they go see the movies over and over and over.

Having said that, the first three are probably somewhat harmless, albeit silly movies. Sappy, romantic, damsel in distress potboilers. I think the 4th book is a bit gory and unnecessary. I assume the 4th movie will be the same.

If your child is in that little girl has a crush on older boy type mentality, it's right up her alley. If she's pretty practical and independent, she'll be interested but not obsessed. They're a quick read, not written particularly well, but engaging. The subject matter is silly and the role model is the old fashioned damsel in distress. So I guess it depends on whether or not that offends you.

 

[NHdisneylover]

It depends on what you consider to be appropriate. I will try to hit on some main topics that might bother some people and maybe that will help you make the decision.

SPOILERS!!!!!!

There is no sex until the last book. Even then it is only after they are married and it is basically described as they got in bed a bunch of feathers were all over the room, they woke up and the furniture was torn apart. She does end up pregnant, he wants her to have an abortion (the word is never used that I recall) and she refuses. The baby nearly kills her before they realize she needs to consume blood to feed it and then everything is basically okay.

Minimal voilence until the last book and even that is not described as all that much blood and gore.

A big theme if the book is that Bella (the main character) is totally in love with Edward (the vampire) and will do ANYTHING to be with him (wants him to make her into a vampire too--she eventually gets that wish granted). This is presented as a good thing. She is willing to give up her family and all for this boy (who she pretty much loves just because he is gorgeous). The courting thins is also odd, it is presented as romantic that this hundreds of years old vampire (who looks like a teen but isn't which in and of itself bugs many people when he is involved with a teen) follows Bella and sneaks into her room at night to watch her sleep (unbeknownst to her) and then starts telling her he is always wanting to kill her but doesn't because he loves her. Some people see all of this as just teenage fluff and nothing to get worked up about others see it as terrible messages to send to kids about what love is. YMMV.

The best thing to do would be to pick it up and read it yourself first

 

[npmommie]

hmmm, something to think about.
I think I will read it first. I don't particularly care for the damsel in distress thing, and the be with him at all costs thing, ..........
yep, I better read it first
thanks!

 

[gregokdisney]

There's nothing that's in your face or over the top in them, but I don't think they are appropriate for 10 year olds at all. First, it's not about romantic love, it's more about obsession. Bella completely makes over her life to be about Edward, and he's kind of a stalker. They break her father's rules. The only good message in it, at least to me, is that Edward at least tries to do what is better for Bella instead of what he wants, so there's a good "put others before yourself" message.

I did love the books and I like the movies, but they are for older kids, not 10 year olds. I am a librarian and all about freedom of information, but I am also a parent and I consider that kids have years ahead of them to read anything they want. However, parents know their own children best. If it is a 10 year old who is very mature, who can understand the nuances of why Bella hasn't made the best choices, and understand that Edward is kind of creepy, then go for it.

If it's a ten year old who is flighty and just wants to read it because everyone else is, reconsider.

 

[luvsJack]

Dd has not read the books yet but has watched the movies. Some of her friends read the books at 10 or 11. The only one I would question would be the last one. I would just suggest reading it before you let your child read it.

As for all the fear of the love story, I just tell dd that "you know that is not love right? Its more like obsession and its really not the way things should be". My answer? "Well, yeah". And she went on to explain how she would never let some guy have that much control over her life.

I do think that most kids get that Edward is a vampire and Jacob is a werewolf and its not real and most people really are not that obsessed with the person they fall in love with or whatever.

There are so many things on TV, in music and in books for kids/teens that is NOT appropriate at all but yet is in their face all the time, Twilight; imho, would really be a better choice than a lot of it. Just don't expect a vampire/werewolf version of Harry Potter, its a darker story. It was really written for a bit older readers. Its basically just a love story with a bit of good vs. evil (or maybe its more like evil vs. more evil )thrown in there.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I've read all of the books and think that it really depends on the maturity of the 10 year old. I would prefer my dd (9) wait until she is around 12 or 13 to read them and she has indicated that she isn't interested in reading them at this point (she scares easily I think she is uncomfortable with reading about vampires and werewolves).

I was really suprised to see the ads for Twilight toys in BK kids meals. I definitely think the Twilight series is inappropriate to be promoting with kids toys. There is no way I would let my 6 and 7 year olds read the book or see the movie!!

 

[castleview]

I asked my very hip librarian and she said sixth grade. My daughter is going into fifth grade, but older (fall baby). I might let her start but she hasn't asked yet.

 

[luvmy3]

I let my dd read Twilight when she was 10, and then right after that she read New Moon and Eclipse. She read Breaking Dawn a few months ago.
I never really had an issue with the obsessive behavior, the damsel in distress or any of that stuff. Before I let her read it I was more concerned with graphic, maybe violent sex in the stories, I was releaved that there is none, and that they wait until they are married despite how obsessed and in love they are, I liked that message.

Oh, and my 6 year old has seen the Twilight and New Moon movies, of course he could care less about them, he'd rather watch Jurassic Park which is way more gory.

 

[gregokdisney]

I asked my very hip librarian and she said sixth grade. My daughter is going into fifth grade, but older (fall baby). I might let her start but she hasn't asked yet.

All the professional reviews I've read (as a librarian) rate this as high school and older, fwiw. I don't always go by those age recommendations, but they are usually fairly close. As I said, I have it in our grades 6-8 middle school, but as a parent it worries me when the 6th graders are gobbling them up. It's a sad fact that a lot of parents are not having these meaningful discussions with their kids that many are posting about here.

 

[NHdisneylover]

To be clear--while I can't stand the Twilight books, I don't censor what my kids read at all. DD had no interest in Twilight at 10 (Vampires are not her thing). She read them at 12 for 2 reasons:
1. just to know what everybody was talking about
2. she was the book reviewer for the student magazine and was told she had to review the most popular books in the library.

She read them before I did and hated them. She thought the writing was terrible and couldn't stand the weak, obsessive character of Bella and how that was portrayed as good and romantic. She thought Edward was a creepy stalker. So, plenty of young girls can read this and not take it to heart. On the other hand, my niece who just turned 12 loves the books, read them 5 times and thinks they are the most romantic things ever and wants her very own Edward. The concerns me a bit. I wish her mother (or father) would read the books and at least discuss with her what is wrong about the relationship. Then it could be a great learning tool.

 

[bdoyledimou]

Might i interject that my DD 10 read the first book, and then declared Bella "a pretty stupid girl, and no way would she let a guy be like that to her" and promptly donated the book to the school library.

She's a cool girl.

 

[castleview]

All the professional reviews I've read (as a librarian) rate this as high school and older, fwiw. I don't always go by those age recommendations, but they are usually fairly close. As I said, I have it in our grades 6-8 middle school, but as a parent it worries me when the 6th graders are gobbling them up. It's a sad fact that a lot of parents are not having these meaningful discussions with their kids that many are posting about here.

Thanks for that info. I do plan on reading the first one before DD does. If I remember correctly, the librarian said the first one is fine, but they get pretty heavy in the next few.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I have a feeling that if I were 10 when these came out, I would probably have been reading them. But I also was an advanced reader (high school level books in 5th & 6th grade).

My parents never banned me from any books, but would occasionally steer me towards some. But, really, any parent should know their own child's reading level and what types of books they would or would not like. If you think your child may be on the iffy side for a book, either make her/him wait a while or read it yourself first.

 

[disneyfans95]

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/

Great site for parents so they know what their kids should/should not see.

 

[mousebymarriage]

so I asked my DD13(she will be 14 in sept) if she felt the books were inappropriate for a 10 year old and here is what she said: " the first 2 books are fine, the 3rd book is not a good choice for most 10 year olds, the last book is very inappropriate for a 10 year old". I also asked her about the Twilight movies and she said that there is no problem with the first two but, Eclipse (the one that just came out) is not for 10 year olds and when the next one comes out(she is guessing based on the overall pattern of the books and the other movies) that it would be a definate NO for a 10 year old.

She told me the reason she feels the books/movies are inappropriate for younger kids is because of the "sexual content" and language.

* I asked my DD because I figured it would give you a better idea of what a child thought of the books/ movies, I hope it helps.

**oh, and I told my DD that our neighbor took her 9 year old DD to see the newest movie (Eclipse) yesterday and my DD's response was "mom, are you kidding me, wow, that is just a way inappropriate movie for T____ to see".

 

[~disneydiva~]

so I asked my DD13(she will be 14 in sept) if she felt the books were inappropriate for a 10 year old and here is what she said: " the first 2 books are fine, the 3rd book is not a good choice for most 10 year olds, the last book is very inappropriate for a 10 year old". I also asked her about the Twilight movies and she said that there is no problem with the first two but, Eclipse (the one that just came out) is not for 10 year olds and when the next one comes out(she is guessing based on the overall pattern of the books and the other movies) that it would be a definate NO for a 10 year old.

She told me the reason she feels the books/movies are inappropriate for younger kids is because of the "sexual content" and language.

* I asked my DD because I figured it would give you a better idea of what a child thought of the books/ movies, I hope it helps.

**oh, and I told my DD that our neighbor took her 9 year old DD to see the newest movie (Eclipse) yesterday and my DD's response was "mom, are you kidding me, wow, that is just a way inappropriate movie for T____ to see".

She thinks that's bad?? My sister took her 6 year old daughter to see it! She is my niece and I love her to death, but definite snowflake!

 

[Colleen27]

i'd give it a quick read and see how comfortable you are with the way the guy is scary controlling and the girl is beyond stupid. I voted "no." You may feel differently.

I haven't actually told my daughter that she can't read them or see the movies, but she's got no interest and I'm glad for that. She's still on a Little House on the Prairie kick, and in no hurry to get into "teenage stuff" (her words). But pretty much all of her friends in the neighborhood (4-5-6th graders) are really into the series, so obviously there are a lot of parents who don't see it the way I do.

ETA: I've read the first two books (waiting on the 3rd from my future SIL; they aren't books I'm interested in owning) and to me they're little more than Harlequin romance novels with vampires/werewolves. Like in a Harlequin romance, what passes for love is a strange mix of physical attraction/chemistry and obsession that the characters are powerless to control. Eye roll worthy to be sure, but not damaging or anything so long as the kids reading it have a firm understanding that real love doesn't work that way. But I do think it is for older kids, 12-13+, not for kids who should be too young for spending time fantasizing about boys.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Ok. So I cannot believe I am linking this but: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2500115

It basically gives you a background on what the "real" Twilight is I guess. But basically, IMO, 10 is too young.