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Flowers for Algernon,
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Gail Gibbs
There are actually two versions. The original 1959 novella was mild enough to be included in my Scholastic Books edition. The novel, sometimes re-titled Charly after the film came out, goes more into depth of the adult themes, some which might be troubling to a young reader. Both are excellent.
Shannon
Depends on the age of the reader and beliefs of the parents. There are no explicitly sexual scenes, but there are scenes that describe sex or sexual feelings in somewhat vague physical terms, and these focus more on the emotional experience. The intercourse is outside of marriage. I might be okay with my teenager reading it, but it's not the best choice for a pre-teen or younger - although I can't imagine why a younger reader would be interested, honestly. There are mildly violent situations involving bullying. There is no swearing. The protagonist specifically endorses polyamory at one point. I would not have my teen read it without reading it first myself, and we would discuss the book.
Michael ~ Nevermoore
Is there such a thing as a PG rating (equivalent) for books? I don't really know. I'd say that this book contains some 'mild nudity' and 'mild profanity' but It'd probably get a PG rating if translated 1-on-1 to the big screen...
AlleyCat
Well, when I was 15, the teacher made us read the Catcher in the Rye and no parents or students complained about it, so, FFA, should be ok.
I think that is a good book, very emotional and touching and useful if you want to make the reader think about the bullying issue. If you are scared about the sex scenes, don't worry because they're not detailed.
I think that is a good book, very emotional and touching and useful if you want to make the reader think about the bullying issue. If you are scared about the sex scenes, don't worry because they're not detailed.
S
This was assigned reading in my middle school (7th grade, so I was 12). Nobody, parent or teacher, made any complaints. If you're concerned about such things, you might want to read it yourself and make your own informed decision.
Aeriel Guggenheim
What is inappropriate about it?
Arno
Yes, in some parts there is indeed some inappropriate ideas and scenes, however if you skip those its still a really good read.
Thuong
Not in the sort of language, sex or substance abuse. But the story is dark and getting darker towards the end. Through out the good part of the story, the main protagonist relives his early life (when he was a retarded young man), full of abuse (through his mother, friends and colleagues) and disturbing images, that makes even me an adult reader feeling uncomfortable. If you want to have a light and happy reading for your child, this one is not a good choice for that.
AlleyCat
Well, when I was 15, the teacher made us read the Catcher in the Rye and no parents or students complained about it, so, FFA, should be ok.
I think that is a good book, very emotional and touching and useful if you want to make the reader think about the bullying issue. If you are scared about the sex scenes, don't worry because they're not detailed.
I think that is a good book, very emotional and touching and useful if you want to make the reader think about the bullying issue. If you are scared about the sex scenes, don't worry because they're not detailed.
Brian
I'd say teenager range and up. There's no swearing, no violence beyond temper tantrums, but there are sex scenes. They aren't detailed but they are there. Also it's not an upbeat story, especially towards the end.
Jon Richfield
Sorry about missing this question. It will be out of date by now, but in case anyone still wants my ha'porth, let me evade the question by referring to something I wrote elsewhere in another connection (teaching children to read:
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If there are adult books lying about the house, and a child elects to read them, no problem. No real censorship is necessary. The parts that one might censor usually will pass the child by. At the age of six, one of ours found, read and re-read a paperback copy of “The Broken Sword”, a Nordic fantasy by Poul Anderson, full of violence, non-explicit sex, incest and so on. The book did not dwell on such things; it just happened to be based on material from a tragedy in Norse mythology, and it was consistently in character. It happened also to be a rattling good story, well written. (Well Anderson generally was very good, of course.) Incomprehensible items in the book, such as sex, the child apparently skimmed over as uninteresting.
One difficulty in later years was that by mid-primary school, they had exhausted the resources of the local public library's children's shelves. In the face of considerable resistance, we had to persuade the librarians to permit them into the adult section to select books for themselves. Again, there was no problem with their selection of books. The bad stuff generally is boring, and the children do not exude green saliva and grow fangs as soon as they encounter unsuitable material.
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Well, FFA is a lot less brutal than TBS. But I am rather less cowardly about answering children's questions than some people, though I am not inclined to push the information onto them. We supplied our children when they were still quite young, (six or eight?) with one or two books of sound physiological instruction, including sex; and one of our baby-sitters said wide-eyed when we got home: "You should be more careful; there are some books on sex on the bottom shelf where the children can reach them!" It took a while for her to digest our response that the reason for that was that it was their book!
Anyway, I would not dream of protecting a child from "Flowers for Algernon" at whatever age s/he chooses to read it independently. Frankly, I would regard the underlying tragedy as more trying than the sexual aspects.
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If there are adult books lying about the house, and a child elects to read them, no problem. No real censorship is necessary. The parts that one might censor usually will pass the child by. At the age of six, one of ours found, read and re-read a paperback copy of “The Broken Sword”, a Nordic fantasy by Poul Anderson, full of violence, non-explicit sex, incest and so on. The book did not dwell on such things; it just happened to be based on material from a tragedy in Norse mythology, and it was consistently in character. It happened also to be a rattling good story, well written. (Well Anderson generally was very good, of course.) Incomprehensible items in the book, such as sex, the child apparently skimmed over as uninteresting.
One difficulty in later years was that by mid-primary school, they had exhausted the resources of the local public library's children's shelves. In the face of considerable resistance, we had to persuade the librarians to permit them into the adult section to select books for themselves. Again, there was no problem with their selection of books. The bad stuff generally is boring, and the children do not exude green saliva and grow fangs as soon as they encounter unsuitable material.
=======
Well, FFA is a lot less brutal than TBS. But I am rather less cowardly about answering children's questions than some people, though I am not inclined to push the information onto them. We supplied our children when they were still quite young, (six or eight?) with one or two books of sound physiological instruction, including sex; and one of our baby-sitters said wide-eyed when we got home: "You should be more careful; there are some books on sex on the bottom shelf where the children can reach them!" It took a while for her to digest our response that the reason for that was that it was their book!
Anyway, I would not dream of protecting a child from "Flowers for Algernon" at whatever age s/he chooses to read it independently. Frankly, I would regard the underlying tragedy as more trying than the sexual aspects.
Cally Jean
I first read this book when I was in eighth grade, but I was a bit of an advanced reader. There's implied sex and the language can be a bit complicated sometime. I think it depends on the maturity of the reader.
Aprilswritings
yes. sexual content/ freud theories throughout it. read it my junior year in high school for english class though.
Freyja Vanadis
I read it in junior high school in the mid 1970s at about age 13. It was required reading in my English class. I saw nothing wrong with it back then, and I still don't.
Sorin
PG for the first adaptation: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062794/
H
How young.. If they can start understanding the main concept author's trying to convey, then they'd be good enough to read them. Prob 15 or something
Gareth
Wait... I read the hardcover edition with a sketch of a man's face on it. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8... is this one a different version, then?
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