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To Sleep in a Sea of Stars,
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Betsy Starks
Desperodox - I think you're being unduly critical. Letting a child read what she wants is in a different category from recommending to that child a book to read. As a grandmother, I know my teenage grandchildren read a wide variety, and they read what they want to read. But I am not going to recommend or give them a book that I feel is inappropriate. In my opinion you're being a bit pedantic and judgemental.
Lesli
An update.. my 13 year old did read it and loved the book, she said it had a lot of swearing but she's used to that, the kids at school are worse. That was a surprise to me! She is mature for her age, and also has Type 1 Diabetes so she deals with life and death decisions on a regular basis. My 12 yr old is the opposite, she's young for her age, so she will not be reading this book yet.
Desperadox
Really? You deside what your teenage kids can read?
Annette Kleinhenz
They no doubt hear far worse swearing at school but there is some scattered throughout. The swearing is appropriate to the situation and story, as many adults talk when not around children. However, it is scattered and not consistent and most certainly not an excessive amount. There is some romance, which is rather sweet, and one scene of actual sex, but it is most definitely not explicit, and it is relatively short. I think they could handle that and it shows a caring relationship between consenting adults who are meeting each other on equal footing, so the sexual politics - if one can use that phrase - are balanced, appropriate and respectful. If your child is highly sensitive, I would be more concerned about the violence of the battle scenes. These are well written and appropriate to the gravity of the story, but still, they are intense. This is an adult novel but I think a young teen who is a member of today's society, watches TV etc, would find nothing shocking in it. Overall, the characters behave honorably, nobly even, and are caring toward one another. The protagonist is female, so your daughters will see a good role model in her. I'd say yes, as long as you discuss what they read.
Jim Kahn
The "sex scene" is pretty much just the words "they made love." The swearing and violence are not gratuitous. Reading this book will not ruin your children
Shannon
Nope absolutely do not recommend this book to young people
Lisa Malmar
I am eternally grateful to have grown up in a home, surrounded by books, with a mom who read all the time. I could choose any book I wanted to read, and did. Some we're beyond my age - if you will - yet here I am at 58 years old, and was never scarred by a single one of them EXCEPT one I took out of the Jr. High School library. It was a young adult 'horror' book and it STILL creeps me out. LOL. And even wayyy back there, I can tell you the language that kids use or overhear when adults aren't around is way worse that you think or remember.
Elyse
It is an adult book so it's very heavy material and may not even keep their attention. I didn't find it to have a lot of cursing and the sex scene is nothing. I read more detailed sex scenes when I was their age. It is violent and that's where I would say it might be much for early teens. Again, it might actually be boring for them. But I wasn't censored as a child reading. I had the freedom to read whatever I wanted.
Kristi
Aww...I hate that about the strong language. I'll have to give this more serious thought as to whether I read it or not.
Samantha Fink
I would say no, as there is a lot of very strong language in this book. There is also a sex scene, but it isn't described in detail.
Jessy's 🌘only escape from reality🌒
I let my 12-year-old son read whatever he wants. I feel reading a kissing/sex scene is completely different than watching one. The shit on tv these days is much worse than some adult books I've read. But again, he reads on a college level and is in 6th grade, so it's all about maturity levels.
Anne Holthaus
An fyi, as a veteran mom of young teens - My go to after checking in on my kid's interests is to ask the school or local public librarian - or support them asking on their own. I am very liberal and I did not want to be "too permissive", especially with the middle school crowd. Librarians know best what to recommend, how much sex/violence/substance-alcohol use, etc. is in the book and how the average developmental age and interests of the kiddo may come into play.
I have been impressed every time that my local public librarian always directly engaged my kids in their opinions and interests when discussing a book recommendation. Teaches them how to choose books in the future - read reviews and not just rely on what is "popular".
I have been impressed every time that my local public librarian always directly engaged my kids in their opinions and interests when discussing a book recommendation. Teaches them how to choose books in the future - read reviews and not just rely on what is "popular".
Jeff
I wouldnt let my kids read CP without first reading it myself. I find his characters lack moral/ethical compasses. And I am not a "preachy" reader. I have no problem with Thomas Covenant and he isnt exactly Harry Potter. You should be there to discuss those lacks that are glossed over. I never felt that way in Hunger Games, and the very premise of those books is the moral dilemma. I am not sure CP even sees the problems himself.
Will
I say that it is a great thing that your children want to read and I wouldn't stop them no matter what this is a great book and should be fine for any body who doesn't mind swearing
Cara Albert
It depends, personally I go by the preview method (reading the whole book could take awhile) and let your kids preview it too. If they hit a part they're uncomfortable with, they will stop reading. As for swearing, I don't think any of it will be so much "inappropriate" as off putting: kids in middle school tend to use a great deal of swear words, even if they don't know what they mean.
C. Lind
As a School teacher my answer to that question is always: try Reading it your self.
Some Young teenagers can read it - some can not. So if you dont want them to try for them self, then the only way of knowing is for you to read it. If it is on the line, then mayby you can read it together with them and talk about it. Sci/Fi is often a little harder than fantasy, where a Young teenager mostly can read a adult story. I often dont find it to be the same in Sci/Fi
Some Young teenagers can read it - some can not. So if you dont want them to try for them self, then the only way of knowing is for you to read it. If it is on the line, then mayby you can read it together with them and talk about it. Sci/Fi is often a little harder than fantasy, where a Young teenager mostly can read a adult story. I often dont find it to be the same in Sci/Fi
Rachael
This is not a Young Adult novel, nor is it even a New Adult novel. This is a full on Adult Sci-fi story and as a 22 year old I could not recommend this book to anyone under 18. It is of course your call as their parent, but I do not think this is appropriate for 12 and 13 year old's. Between language, some sexual content, and the general adultness of the story line, I cannot in good conscious say that this would be a good fit for them.
JD
The only adult aspect of this book is the profanity. Everything else is perfectly YA.
Walter Roth
I'm about 25 hrs into the audiobook, with 6hrs left. I'm thoroughly enjoying the book so far. There was one "scene" about an hour ago where there was some lovy-dovy going on but it was PG at most. So far, i would allow my 14yr old to read it.
Sandra Jackson - Alawine
There is some sex but nothing too descriptive lots of violence and killing and it's mostly boring.
Christine
I would probably not let them until they are much older.
Kevin Orth
I defer to your parents - 100%. That being said, it should be OK. Do not take my word. Follow the counsel of your parents. That being said, my parents felt that as long as I was reading, no need to intervene. Don’t take my word for anything!
Tia
I'm 225 pages in and an educator of Middle Ages. I would say, the biggest concern at the 20% portion is attention to detail. If you are comparing it to the Aragon series, it would be different to idea of space mortality. If your children enjoy watching the Aliens movie series, this would compliment them nicely. Not my first recommendation to Middle Ages especially if they need a sense of dedication to the length along.
Ashton Herrod
It has a lot of swearing and one sex scene.
David
I wouldn't recommend it to teenagers, mainly because I don't think they would get as much out of it. This is book aimed at adults, i.e. people that have some living under their belts. Swearing and sex aside, there are some weighty concepts that younger people might miss. But each child is different so YMMV.
Philip Higgins
Any supposed 'adult nature' of the material is the least of this book's problems.
Sheryl Melvin
Don’t expect it to be the Inheritance trilogy. Retired 6th grade teacher here. Some kids can handle the dark violence, and some need lighter material. You know your kids better than anyone else.
Flewts
The book is 825 pages. I think the "too adult" question might just be that it is not like the books they read and loved, which were written for their ages. They might find it a long heavy slog.
Jason
Yes it's fine. However a child may not enjoy it
Dennis_a
weird as much as I use some of those words it was surprising to see them in the book. but that's life of grown adults. yeah, wait a while for younger audience to encounter this read.
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