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Mandy asked this question about The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #1):
Is this book appropriate for a 17 year old boy?
Joy I know this is an old question, and the boy is no longer 17, but it really saddens me that people on goodreads ask perfectly normal questions, only to…moreI know this is an old question, and the boy is no longer 17, but it really saddens me that people on goodreads ask perfectly normal questions, only to be judged for them. This is not pleasejudgemyquestionmoralsandparentingskills.com. You don't know why a person is asking the question. In this case, it was the parent, but I've read other questions posted by minors, asking about a book for themselves. You don't know what the intended readers' sensitivities are, or what they've gone through in their past. What's okay for you and your kids might be disturbing and traumatizing for another. An abused kid, for example, should not be reading stories about abuse, unless there's a therapeutic aspect to it, or they'll be traumatized all over again. Some people may not have the emotional ability or even the cognitive ability to handle certain subject matter. Everyone who has commented on this question seems to have been of normal or above intelligence, and raised kids with a similar intelligence level. Some people aren't so lucky. They may have a lower than normal intelligence, therefore, books for kids their age may actually be inappropriate for their decreased mental capacity. And if someone is asking about the appropriateness of a book, it's no one's business as to why. They just want to to know the answer to their question.
That being said, I think the best course of action for any parent questioning the appropriateness of a book should check the book out from the library and read it for themselves. A child with similar questions can ask a trusted adult. That's what adults are for.
People asking these types of questions care about ther children's and/or their own mental and emotional well-being. If you don't agree with how a person goes about ensuring that, fine, but it should be respected. (less)
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The Shadow of the Wind
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
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