Kae answers “I have an 9 year old who really wants to...”

Denise Saxon asked this question about Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1):

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!

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 matte…more*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.(less)

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