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Avid
I would say yes, though guardedly. There’s very little inappropriate language or references, but it very frankly covers things that can and do go wrong with a body - choking, diseases, dementia, birth defects, and many other ailments and conditions that i think could unnecessarily alarm a 7yo. There is also a lot of data that I would imagine a 7yo would find very dry and boring - like the number of people per 100,000 who develop a certain disease each year in each of several named countries, for example. Or the historical prevalence of a certain condition. There is also a chapter on conception and birth. I mean, it’s all factual, but I know my own kids weren’t ready for that at 7. Maybe yours is. I definitely think the intended audience is adults, though.
Erica Strand
Like you, I would want to encourage my kid's interests as much as possible and there are definitely aspects of the book that could be interesting and thought-provoking for an inquisitive 7-year-old. As a whole, I would not recommend a cover to cover reading as some of the content is gruesome and cringe-worthy, even for a fully adult person interested in gruesome and cringe-worthy subjects. I know my 7-year-old brain would not have been equipped to deal with some of the content. Good luck, future Dr. mom! Have fun however you decide to guide your daughter's learning!
Marilee
Bryson is frank and open about all things to do with the human body. It's written, I'd say, for an adult or possibly teen readership. He doesn't pull punches, though he's never vulgar, just frank. I can't know your seven year old's maturity, but some descriptions and topics might be a bit too outré for most youngsters. I wouldn't have read my kids [or listen via an audio recording] the entirety of the book at that age, though some sections would be interesting and not unduly shock a child's sensitivities. I'd say parental judgement is in order.
Nicole
I would have loved it at that age, but probably would have found the story of Fanny Burney's mastectomy upsetting, since I certainly did when I read about it in my thirties! It is included here, so use some appropriate caution. Otherwise, I think it's better to let kids try and reject or accept things for themselves than needlessly add mystery to reading material. It's fascinating and informative, and if she enjoys it now, she'll enjoy it for many years to come.
Robert
Just read it to her! Kids love all that nasty stuff! Like we all do.
The Book Squirrel
I would say no. You might be reading it yourself and care to share a trivia fact with her every now and then, but other than that, it's not appropriate (in terms of data density and some horrific descriptions such as of early medical experiments) for children.
Susan
I'd say no. I was unhappy with the way the book focused on the negative about female bodies. I got the impression that a woman's life was full of pain and risk. If I didn't know better, this book would make me feel scared about being a woman, and if I was a girl, I'd be terrified to grow up. Giving birth and having breasts doesn't mean the end of joy. Giving birth is more of a miracle that ends in great joy and is worth the pain. I'd say this book is not for kids. I didn't like the way he focused on women's pain when discussing our body.
H-Grace
I would say no. As a child I loved anatomy and stories about biological scientific findings, so much so that I started college as a pre-med major. If your child has an interest in human biology, I would find books for them written for their emotional maturity level. This book may bore them at this point, for reasons stated in others’ comments. And, maybe give them a copy of Gray’s Anatomy.
Lisa
I listened to the audio version. As a mother of an 8 and 12 year old, I was very tempted to listen while they were in the car with me. Luckily, I never did, because almost inevitably, the next part I'd listen to I absolutely would not have wanted them to hear. I would say about 60% of the info would be fine for kids, but 40% wouldn't be. That's a lot to have to edit out.
Carol Sorensen
I would say no, and I may have some of the same concerns as Susan. This is more a story of the glorious accomplishments of men, and less about real information about the body. Women are barely mentioned, at my count, one doctor, several prostitutes, and poor Marie Curie. I was very disappointed in Bryson, as I've read some of his other books and enjoyed them. I was hoping for great information.
No girl needs to see a narrative from this approach, and there are some great ways to find fascinating information for kids and adults.
No girl needs to see a narrative from this approach, and there are some great ways to find fascinating information for kids and adults.
Tom
I think most of the book would be great but it might be a good idea to go passage by passage. Some of the stories of medical science and the way we got here are eye-opening to say the least! The book deals with some potentially disturbing topics: pain, death, birth, open wounds, the microbiome, wholesale lobotomies...
Paulius Rymeikis
I'd compliment it with How The Body Works by DK shorturl.at/nCMQR
Whimsical Bear
I would second the other comments. I think having read it yourself, you could possibly pick out some of the stories/case studies and tell her about them- she might enjoy if you showed her some of the photos and told her a simplified version of the story, and it could be a gentle way to discuss the fact that lots of people get sick and get better, but that doesn't always happen.
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