A’s answer to “Appropriate for mature teens?” > Likes and Comments
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I think you're missing the point - just because you "completely understood" the book does not mean this is appropriate. And nobody is saying teens are all foolish and naive. It's just that there's a time for everything. At 14, you can't understand a lot of nuances nestled in these dark situations and it might as well distort your views at an age where you're forming who you will be for the rest of your life. While you might be feeling pretty grown-up reading things like this, there are so many better books to read that will help your personal development and teach you valuable lessons than this book.
Keeping the kids in the "gilded cage" until they're 14 or older doesn't prevent them for anything. The moment they realize the truth hiding behind all those subjects that "aren't supposed to be talked about at home" could be damaging - first nothing for a decade and a half, and the suddenly all at once. I, myself, read only the "books for grown-ups", because I find the genre Young Adult to be insultingly stupid - there are, of course, a few exceptions, but really very little of them. This book - if the teen reads it - IS supposed to break a few illusions. Of course they're different ways of introducing subjects to them, but I think that many girls will grow up naively being there's such a thing as perfect marriage, happy and helpful husband and joy, flowers and sunshine all around. And there isn't. "Teach you valuable lessons" is just an old cliche and nothing more. You form your self for the entire life, of course teenage things such as traumas and physical/emotional/sexual awakenings will follow you through life, but the memories will also soon fade. Teenage years aren't when you shape "who you will be for the rest of your life". You come to ideas then, but if you're an immature one, you certainly aren't going to do anything exact at that point. Once again, worrying parents, if you don't want your child to read about "adult" themes, to get to know the world and how it works, to get to know relationships... Don't let him anywhere near Gillian Flynn or good 90 percent of the books labeled as "classics".
I'd suggest starting with Noddy picture books.
You can tell the truth about life without also exposing them to excessive swearing and graphic depictions of sexual acts. One description in this book grossed me out and I'm 30. This is definitely not a book for teens.
I haven't read this book yet and am oblivious of it's content, and although you are correct in saying that a 21st century teen is aware of most things in life there IS a level for everything, and every person does not have the same capacity as you. If you could easily read and understand the themes in this book that doesn't mean everyone else will too. I'm around your age and like you and most teens today know more than their elders might think, there are some topics that I find difficult to digest. So I think there was no need for an aggressive reply to the question asked. It was quite relevent in my perspective.
And most things in life are learnt by experience. Someone telling you or reading about something in a book is not always enough.
Also, I think parents have the right to protect there children from what they think is harmful or inappropriate for them.
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Eric
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Jul 23, 2015 08:22PM
I think you're missing the point - just because you "completely understood" the book does not mean this is appropriate. And nobody is saying teens are all foolish and naive. It's just that there's a time for everything. At 14, you can't understand a lot of nuances nestled in these dark situations and it might as well distort your views at an age where you're forming who you will be for the rest of your life. While you might be feeling pretty grown-up reading things like this, there are so many better books to read that will help your personal development and teach you valuable lessons than this book.
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Keeping the kids in the "gilded cage" until they're 14 or older doesn't prevent them for anything. The moment they realize the truth hiding behind all those subjects that "aren't supposed to be talked about at home" could be damaging - first nothing for a decade and a half, and the suddenly all at once. I, myself, read only the "books for grown-ups", because I find the genre Young Adult to be insultingly stupid - there are, of course, a few exceptions, but really very little of them. This book - if the teen reads it - IS supposed to break a few illusions. Of course they're different ways of introducing subjects to them, but I think that many girls will grow up naively being there's such a thing as perfect marriage, happy and helpful husband and joy, flowers and sunshine all around. And there isn't. "Teach you valuable lessons" is just an old cliche and nothing more. You form your self for the entire life, of course teenage things such as traumas and physical/emotional/sexual awakenings will follow you through life, but the memories will also soon fade. Teenage years aren't when you shape "who you will be for the rest of your life". You come to ideas then, but if you're an immature one, you certainly aren't going to do anything exact at that point. Once again, worrying parents, if you don't want your child to read about "adult" themes, to get to know the world and how it works, to get to know relationships... Don't let him anywhere near Gillian Flynn or good 90 percent of the books labeled as "classics".I'd suggest starting with Noddy picture books.
You can tell the truth about life without also exposing them to excessive swearing and graphic depictions of sexual acts. One description in this book grossed me out and I'm 30. This is definitely not a book for teens.
I haven't read this book yet and am oblivious of it's content, and although you are correct in saying that a 21st century teen is aware of most things in life there IS a level for everything, and every person does not have the same capacity as you. If you could easily read and understand the themes in this book that doesn't mean everyone else will too. I'm around your age and like you and most teens today know more than their elders might think, there are some topics that I find difficult to digest. So I think there was no need for an aggressive reply to the question asked. It was quite relevent in my perspective.
And most things in life are learnt by experience. Someone telling you or reading about something in a book is not always enough.Also, I think parents have the right to protect there children from what they think is harmful or inappropriate for them.
