Denise Saxon

Denise Saxon asked:

I have an 9 year old who really wants to read this book (she is reading at least 7th grade level). Is the theme too advanced? I'd love your opinion on any advanced/troubling things in the book so I could evaluate whether she could handle it. Thank you!

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10 years ago
61 answers

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Fairouz i am around your daughter's age and i LOVED this book do not limit what your daughter can read too much.

Alexandra I am currently 12, and my Mum doesn't like me reading romances, or fantasy, like vampires and angels, but I read them anyway. This may seem like a bad thing, but when you as a parent, limit your child to certain types of books, it just makes the child want to read them more. It encourages children to read more.
Mid last year, I started to read the twilight series, this may seem bad, but I got addicted, and I couldn't put it down. After that I found FanFiction.Net, and read more than 500 alternate universes in twilight. I wansn't a very big fan of the original twilight, but I was more a fan of the FanFiction.Net twilight, that fans created.
I also started to read Harry Potter fanfiction as well. I then continued to read around 600 stories.
And then I read crossovers of Harry Potter and twilight. I read one story consisting of 90 chapters, and around 360,000 words long.
As you can see, I have become accustomed to reading about 5 fanfiction stories a day, and when my MAum limits me to books, I rea them any way.

Addison Dixon Ummmm. Well. There is some cussing, (the "d" word is said a few times), the description of the disease is a little vivid. The concept might be kind of hard to understand. I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely darker than the original Cinderella! The romance is mild. If she's reading 7th grade level books, then it probably should be fine. If this says anything--it's clean for a YA book!
Hopefully this helps! :)

Ginny Kollmeier I had a family member who read War & Peace at the age of 10. He is now a computer programmer and makes millions. Never limit the abilities of your children. This book is no worse that Harry Potter or other books written for her age level.

Kristi I think it depends on your individual child's maturity. I just read these as a 30 something and would not recommend it for a 9 year old. The descriptions of the disease, the war themes, and the political themes would seem advanced for that age to me. I'd wait till 13 or so.

Lizzie I just read Cinder today. I enjoyed it and did not think it was any darker than old-fashioned fairy tales. The themes of war, disease, prejudice are all on the news every day. The language was not bad and no sex scenes.

Having been a child whose parents attempted to exert control over what I read, I learned early how to evade them and read what interested me. I figured my daughter was likely to do the same to me. (At age 10, she tested at high school reading level.) I had a library of science fiction so I never banned her from any book she wanted to read. I did express to her when i thought concepts were more advanced and made myself available to discuss them. I found that generally from ages 8 to 14, she really did know what interested her and what was "too heavy."

Tucks It's pretty clean for a YA book. I don't remember any cursing, despite Amariah's reply...will have to look into that.

The series turns a little darker towards the next few books, though it's not anything more than PG.

However, "Fairest," which is kind of an add-on book (not really part of the series, but explores the 'villain,' Levana's past). This book does have some themes that would be difficult for a nine-year-old, especially 'cause it's about adults trying to figure out a very messy marriage.

But so far, "Cinder," "Scarlet," and "Cress" are relatively fine in terms of YA literature.

Leslie I recommended this book to my 9 year old daughter. She has read Harry Potter--I think HP is "worse" than Cinder for this age level. The part that raised my eyebrow a bit in Cinder was the couple times it talked about an "escort."

Eliza You should be happy your daughter really *wants* to read, and at such a young age! Some kids don't like to read at all, so you should be encouraging your daughter to read all manner of great books like this one! If you try to limit what she wants to read, she'll go for what you don't let her anyway. But if you give her freedom and positive support she'll naturally find her way to good literature :)

Erebus YES. I am ten, and I have read Game of Thrones, and I feel that you should not limit what your kid reads:)

Katie I think so. She should be able to handle it.

Kylea Watkins I think that it would be okay. I'm 14 and it's not really scary and there isn't a lot of violence. Reading wise, the plot isn't super intense so she would understand it especially if she's reading at a 7th grade level or above. Personally, this was kind of light reading for me and the only thing that you (and it's up to you if you are) would have to be okay with is the 'd' word like 3 times.

Cinducky If by "d" word, Amariah meant death or disease, then yeah, there's a lot of death and disease (thinking she may have meant damn)... and no, this is definitely not darker than the "original" Cinderella being the one that the Grimm Brothers wrote originally. It is definitely, however, darker than the Disney version of Cinderella. Not sure I'd recommend this for a 9 year old regardless of her reading level still but that's my personal take on this (Levana's story, "Fairest" is definitely not something I would give a 9-year-old to read, especially). It's also labeled as young adult, middle grade may be more suitable for her at most.

Sarah My 10 year old son loves these books.

☾✦Margaret Rolfe✦☽ (on hiatus) No... This is 100% NOT appropriate for a 9 YEAR OLD.

Zombified Spider I was your daughter's age when i read this book! it was so good! i have always been an advanced reader, reading this series at age 9 a great age to read these books!

-al

Novel Notices I know this was asked a while ago, but for anyone wondering something similar, here's a full review:
https://www.novelnotices.com/cinder
Hope it helps you decide!

Kae *This has nothing to do with how well a child can read. It has everything to do with whether or not they are mature enough to handle the subject matter.*

As a youth librarian, I would *never* recommend a YA or Teen book to a 9-yr-old. That's the sort of decision someone could only make if they know the child and the book well. So if you're wondering, read the book for yourself. Then you can decide firsthand whether it's appropriate for your kid and why.

Yes, children are autonomous whether we like it or not. They often find ways to do what they want, whether we like it or not. That does NOT mean you should let your kid read whatever they want because they're going to anyway. It means you need to inform yourself about the books and authors your kid is into. You need to have open-minded conversations with your child about what they're reading and why. You also need to have conversations with them about why you feel materials are appropriate or not. You need to be a parent.

Lia Acosta I started reading it in 7th and thought it was great! Would totally recommend the book for her. It's very clean for a YA book, but I think as the series goes the more violent it gets.

Savanah Clark I believe your daughter would love this book and as long as she does not say the cuss word she should be fine towards the end in the winter book it is a little gory about blood and the Lunars controlling people.

Scarlet I read this book at age 10, so it I think she should be able too. When I was her age my reading level was grade 8, so she should be able to read most books she wants too.

sarah I'm in 6th grade, and although I'd say this book is more suited for a 12-18 yo. audience, a mature 9 year old who has not been sheltered very much can read it. But there are heavy topics in the book, such as abuse (obviously, since the book is a retelling of Cinderella) and disease. Overall, if it was a film, I would rate it PG-13, but a mature tween could handle it.

sarah سارة (free me) I read this book when I was ten years old, and it was age appropiate for me. Though I probably didn't pay attention to the book at the time, but I just now reread it (I'm 11 and 1/12 if you must know,) and I REALLY liked it.

.*• y u e r •*. i read cinder when i was about 10 and i couldn't stop reading until i finished the series.

Olive ✨ I am 12 years old. I say that it depends on the types of books that you have read. If she is not used to romance, violence, or high suspense, I would not recommend this to your 9-year-old.

mjraves I read this book when I was your daughter's age and highly enjoyed it, and didn't find it too advanced or inappropriate for me. Although she may not understand some of the political commentary, I think a mature 9 year old would definitely be able to read this book.

Ash I'd say she could read this one but not Scarlet or the rest of the series as romance becomes a main focus and killing becomes the main focus.

Flaming Fox its OK to read a 7th grad level and its rely good to read a 7th grad level because you get to learn more in 7th grade but she/he might need to stick with her/his actual grad level and this theme in not realy too advance but it might have maybe little to much romantic stuff with it its gest like Cinderella but different

Rory i am twelve and i think it is great. there is a little cussing but if she is mature enough to read books at the seventh grade level i would be surprised if she hasn't heard or read it yet. i would let her but its your choice. i read at high school level so i have read lots of stuff like that and if she is going to keep advancing she is gonna have to read stuff like that sometime. let us know your answer!

Chloe I think that this book should be fine for a nine year old. I read this book in 5th grade and I understood almost everything.

Nakita My 10 year old sister is currently reading the Series and she loves it, I say let her go for it,,, She will love love Love them!

Lauren Lanz My sister is 10 years old and reads at a 6th grade level. She finished this entire series and fell in love with it. Your daughter is at a high reading level for her age and I can't see her having many issues with this book.

✨ Aaron Jeffery ✨ Well if your daughter hasn’t read it yet I would recommend it now because I’m 11 and just finished it.

alexandra ༊*·˚ Cinder is a great book. I would recommend it to your daughter only if she understands the concept that, I hate to put it this way, the book isn't real. I know a few 9 year olds who once they read the book, have nightmares about plagues, wars, and etc., not understanding that it is just fictional and will not entirely affect them. So, if you believe your child is mature enough to read it, you should let her. It is a great book!!!

sally!! I think it depends on your child's maturity level. I have a ten-year-old brother who is reading these and loves the series! I think you should have your child try it out, and if the first book is too advanced wait a couple years for them to move on to book two. ;)

Claire the thing is is that being advanced isn't the only thing when it comes to books you also need to be mature enough I would not recommend the book to a nine year because of the language but once she reaches 12/13 or so I think that she will be old enough for the book

Jeremy E Redman There is nothing advanced or troubling that I could pick up on. I was 11 when I read the series so...... There is nothing in there that should be hard for her to understand.

Rowan This question was asked 2 years ago meaning your daughter is now around 11, If she hasn't read it yet i would say it's fine for 11 + for mature avid readers. I read similar things when i was 11 and up from there.

Heather I am 11 and I think she is mature enough

Eva The first book is not that bad at all i think she could read it but Winter and Cress start to get kinda more mature and darker for a nine year old

chadiya No, it is a very appropriate book for a YA And can help her know who she is.

Juliette I'm in 7th Grade and I was fine with this. I think the worst of it was vivid descriptions of disease some also concepts maybe hard for a younger child to grasp

John There's nothing horrible in here. The worst bits are descriptions of the disease and war, and those are very tame. I think a 9 year old who is ready for a book this long is probably going to be fine with this.

Thomas I think a 9 year old would be well-suited for this book. It's good to introduce children to more mature themes such as war, disease and even politics at a young age. But this book does it perfectly - it eases into the themes gently, letting them longer throughout the whole story as the characters develop further. This book is mildly violent, but nothing a mature 9 year old couldn't handle. But as the series winds on, the themes increase in maturity level. Nothing inappropriate or scarring, but definitely something you want to keep tabs on. The second book, Scarlet, is aimed more at 10-11 year olds, so I'd suggest waiting on those. And the rest of the series is leaning more towards 11-12. The companion book, Fairest, is one that I'd save for 12-13. But it really all depends on how mature your child is, and what she can handle.

Aeda If your talking about if there's anything innapropriate, I would say wait a year or two, because there is some stuff about the disease in the book that's kind of gross, but that's really it.

Dcarlintyson She could read it. You should read it too so you can discuss it with her.

Lindsey A 7th grader myself , I would not recommend it for 9year old .
There is a part of romance that it will not be suitable for your daughter...
But if your daughter reads YA, I think it will be okay...
But the series behind can be scary for a 9year old.

Eve I'd have her wait at least 2+ years, even if she's reading at a high level. There is frequent swearing, much violence and blood, sometimes describes gruesomely, and there is some content that is much more mature for a nine year old. I read it when I was 12 and still felt I should have waited a little longer. :D

Iko I definitely say not till at least 12 or 13, Cinder is an awesome book, but if she wants to continue the series (which I guarantee she will) Scarlet and Winter both have very difficult scenes. I'd say wait for sure. But definitely for when she is a little older, because for the most part it is fairly clean.

K I think Cinder would be fine, but Scarlet is pretty intense near the end, and in Cinder, the description of the disease is intense as well. I would say that the best thing to do is to read it first and decide if it is age appropriate for your child.

I hope this helps!

Mackenzie I don't think she could handle it. Try give her an Ever After High book.

Konnor N As a young adult, Cinder should not be read by a 9 year old. Its plot is too advanced for someone their age.

Erin well when i was 9 i would have been fine with pretty much everything in it but I'm not sure about some other kids there is some cussing but its very mild and in later books its kinda violent but if you're ok with her reading other young adult books it should be fine then again it all depends on the maturity of the child. :)

Grace It's perfect for children to read in my opinion. All it is a rebelling for Cinderella in the future

Alexandra I personally think that it is okay. It all depends. I read Harry Potter in second grade, and it didn't even faze me, but Cinder isn't particularly bad. Once again, it all depends. If the person in question is okay with the very slightly "frightening" description of the disease, and the more advanced concepts in the book, then I would say yes.

Sabrina Check out this:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book...

helen❣️ Sure. I was reading The A-List at that age....if she's mature enough I guess.

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Brittany It depends on your child and your comfort level. I personally do not think it is to mature for a 9 year old. It is definitely not as dark as the original (i.e. Grimm's version) of Cinderella where the stepsisters slice off parts of their feet and get their eyes pecked out. I read Stephen King's Rose Madder at the age of 10 which had major adult themes and explicit details. It did not scar me for life. I think it will be fine.

Randi My 9 year old started reading it and said it was a bit confusing and didn't really understand so I think we'll wait until next year and try it again. She's in 4th grade and reads at a 6th grade level so maybe yours would be a little more ready for it if she reads at 7th grade level.

Meghan Lamar i finished reading it and if your child is reading seventh grade level books than this book is good for them

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