My oldest loves to read, and I've been able to give her lots of good free reading this year. She's asking about a couple books that I wanted to ask about: "The Fault In Our Stars" By John Green….can't tell if this is really appropriate or not? do you know if there is sexual content or just flirtations? "Michael Vey" Series….again, I'm most concerned about sexual content vs. violence. My daughter is mature, and I've let her read Hunger Games and Divergent Series (well, she's only on Insurgent on the latter)…I have to catch up with her on those, someone told me that Allegient may not be a good read for her. She is 14 1/2. My husband has gotten her hooked on Dr. Who, Alias, Heroes, Etc. She gets sarcasm and subtleties like I did as a teen. She just finished "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", and she totally got the humor (hubby's got the BBC Mini-series that they're going to watch soon). We have a "you must read the book to watch the movie" rule in our house, so she is now asking to read "The Fault of Our Stars". Would love to know your thoughts, if you've read them, or your teen has read them. THANKS!!!
Elle read "The Fault In Our Stars", she quite liked it and said it's very popular at school. It's dark and sad....and deep and lovely. Yes, the two characters do have sex....exactly once, after a deeply connected romance...but given the fact that they're both potentially terminal cancer patients (and he does die with her at his bedside, essentially)...it's not exactly a promotion for promiscuity. Themes are about love, relationships, the fear of getting hurt and hurting others. I think that's what appeals to teens. I'd let her read it. Michael Vey has violence, but not sex. It reminds me weirdly of Ender's Game. I personally wouldn't have any objection to either. At 14..they can reason, so even if they read something objectionable...they can handle it. That's my feeling, anyway.
Hmmm, thanks. I think I may read it first. She's pretty mature, and we can talk about it, I know. But, I do better if I've read it before her and am prepared. I have many friends who haven't let their kids read Divergent because of the romantic references. I read it, she read it, we discussed it. She has a good head on her shoulders. In fact, at 14, she sees no reason to date because it's not like you'll actually end up marrying that person, and the point of dating is to get married, right? LOL She loved Ender's Game. So, she'll probably like the Michael Vey stuff, she is not afraid of that kind of stuff, and can separate it and know it's not real, that it's fantasy. Thanks for the help.
I think that at 14 girls can explore sexuality in a mental way, and from the heart and learn about romance and read about it without it being a physical thing or leading them to it being so. As a matter of fact I think that letting kids that age learn about it a bit in a controlled environment, ie reading and discussing it makes them less apt to get involved with the wrong kids in their quest to satisfy their curiosity. I talk about what my dd's read with them also. I watch their shows with them at times and we discuss the interactions of the characters etc. Being too prim about such matters can leave kids with the burden of puritanical self condemnation just for having sexual thoughts or feelings. They could end up hooking up with someone they have found to be a poor choice because of a since of quilt for whatever level of intimacy they have gained with that person before finding them to be a poor choice ie, feeling like spoiled goods they must marry them. I feel that being open to discussions about sexuality and sex itself is the best way to prepare a young woman to make chaste and wise decisions. They need to understand that they will have those feelings and that they are not a sinful wretch because their body is responding to nature and surging with hormonal changes. I find that many writers are able to describe such matters far better then I and that such materials go a lot further than a lecture from me. LOL The after discussions can be quite fun though. We had a blast discussing the interactions between Katniss and the young men in the Hunger Games. I will have to find those books in the library and check them out.
