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The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,
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Ailsa
This answer contains spoilers…
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Nancy
I wanted to read it when I was a young teenager. The school librarian told me I shouldn't read it, and she was right. Half of the book is filled with historical information about Paris, and the different layers and walls of that city. It is a very long book, and the child would have to be pretty precocious to read it at age 11.
Vance
I would not recommend it. Not to be a prude, but there are a few "suggestive" scenes (remarkable only because one doesn't anticipate that in works from this time, though they certainly pale versus modern literature). More relevant, Hugo goes on frequent lengthy rambles that are disconnected from the story and are total yawn fests...I was glad I endured, because it truly is a captivating plot, but am pretty certain I did not possess that fortitude at eleven.
Silverwhistle
It depends on the maturity and intelligence of the child. But I think 11 is a bit on the young side, because of the philosophical/intellectual content even more than the sexual content. I read it at 15 or 16, as an intellectually precocious would-be mediæval historian, so devoured it then (and fell passionately in love with its tragic hero). Haven't been the same since...
Dylan Lockhart
Maybe it's better to start with the Disney version, the book is much darker, but even the Disney version is quite... mature! When I was a kid, I understood that was something in this Disney and if the child likes it, maybe in some years he'll want to read the book (just like me)?
Katie
The book is pretty dense, so if they are mature enough to get through it, they are mature enough for those topics.
Newly Wardell
No, there are plenty of great stories but the ones by Victor Hugo are not appropriate at that age. His themes get pretty dark and there is no rush on introducing those themes to a child.
Tony Potopea
deffinetly, hugo is realy good at stories
Serena
Definitely NO. Quite a few lewd descriptions of loose & otherwise women, some very uncomfortable advances made on Esmeralda, and general needlessly-detailed descriptions of women's anatomy. Also, Phoebus is a philandering butthead and totally does NOT deserve Esmeralda. In short, nothing about this book screams family-friendly animated movie, Disney!
Natasha
No, but it is more appropriate than the most modern young reader novels of today.
Missa
I read this as a young teen several decades ago. I considered everything in the school and public library as fair game. Anyone who has persevered and read the book will find the 'good' in it; the bitter truth of the persecution of the physically ugly, the exploitation of the vulnerable, and the pain of longing for the unattainable. A child can read it, but not understand how prevalent and timely these themes are until they have some years under their belt.
I think the danger of what Disney did is not only the sugar-coating, but the introduction of 'magic' to this story. 'There is magic. This could not have happened' somehow lessens the impact.
I think the danger of what Disney did is not only the sugar-coating, but the introduction of 'magic' to this story. 'There is magic. This could not have happened' somehow lessens the impact.
Missa
I read this as a young teen several decades ago. I considered everything in the school and public library as fair game. Anyone who has persevered and read the book will find the 'good' in it; the bitter truth of the persecution of the physically ugly, the exploitation of the vulnerable, and the pain of longing for the unattainable. A child can read it, but not understand how prevalent and timely these themes are until they have some years under their belt.
I think the danger of what Disney did is not only the sugar-coating, but the introduction of 'magic' to this story. 'There is magic. This could not have happened' somehow lessens the impact.
I think the danger of what Disney did is not only the sugar-coating, but the introduction of 'magic' to this story. 'There is magic. This could not have happened' somehow lessens the impact.
Missa
I read this as a young teen several decades ago. I considered everything in the school and public library as fair game. Anyone who has persevered and read the book will find the 'good' in it; the bitter truth of the persecution of the physically ugly, the exploitation of the vulnerable, and the pain of longing for the unattainable. A child can read it, but not understand how prevalent and timely these themes are until they have some years under their belt.
I think the danger of what Disney did is not only the sugar-coating, but the introduction of 'magic' to this story. 'There is magic. This could not have happened' somehow lessens the impact.
I think the danger of what Disney did is not only the sugar-coating, but the introduction of 'magic' to this story. 'There is magic. This could not have happened' somehow lessens the impact.
John D Harbeck
no way. I am 58 years old and its slow going for me. Some of the words and preferences are over my head.
Isobel
Probably not. The subject matter is very dark and mature for children.
Jesse Freedom
Most eleven-year-old's probably would not have the patience to read it, and not just because it would be a hard book for most kids that age. For a patience eleven-year-old, with a high reading level, who is fine with pg-13 content, this is a good book.
Rebecca Maddison
I think the content is too difficult for an 11 year old. There are essay style chapters on the architecture of the buildings of Paris and peoples links to history through the buildings.
Thom Coté
Wouldn't recommend it, simply because the vast majority of kids that age won't pick up on the complex wordplay and philosophical and political themes the books mentions frequently. And I'd also imagine a lot of kids would get bored with the frequent, lengthy asides Hugo writes about architecture, literature, politics, what have you.
I would actually highly recommend the Disney movie for kids. Singing gargoyles aside, it actually gets a lot of things very right in adapting this story. Frollo's characterization in particular is spot-on, which is surprising given his sexual perversion for La Esmeralda. If your kid enjoys the movie, they may well enjoy the book when they're a bit older.
I would actually highly recommend the Disney movie for kids. Singing gargoyles aside, it actually gets a lot of things very right in adapting this story. Frollo's characterization in particular is spot-on, which is surprising given his sexual perversion for La Esmeralda. If your kid enjoys the movie, they may well enjoy the book when they're a bit older.
KT
If your 11 or 12 year old really wants to read it, maybe consider Great Illustrated Classics or Classic Starts? These two versions take the book and condense it (a lot), give it a large font, and Great Illustrated Classics has pictures every other page. That makes it very readable for that age group. When I was about 11 I read a lot of classics in that format, including Hunchback. At the time I was mature enough to understand the sexual themes, but the abridged versions make it pretty subtle since they're for young readers. As far as the dark nature of the story, young readers will have to see at some point that good doesn't always triumph and innocent people suffer greatly because of the actions of bad people.
The Disney movie was one of my favorites as a young kid (5-7 years old) and to this day I still love that movie. I don't mind the fact that it had singing and dancing and comedic gargoyles and a happy ending because that's totally appropriate for its intended audience. But for a kid's movie it is still pretty dark. The sexual themes went way over my head until I was about 11, but there were some scenes I found really intense and scary. I think it's a great movie in its own right, but not necessarily a good "preview" into the original novel.
The Disney movie was one of my favorites as a young kid (5-7 years old) and to this day I still love that movie. I don't mind the fact that it had singing and dancing and comedic gargoyles and a happy ending because that's totally appropriate for its intended audience. But for a kid's movie it is still pretty dark. The sexual themes went way over my head until I was about 11, but there were some scenes I found really intense and scary. I think it's a great movie in its own right, but not necessarily a good "preview" into the original novel.
Isabella Frohlich
I wouldn't suggest it for an 11 year old. Again, you need to remember that Frollo feels lust for Esmeralda. Again though, it really depends on their level of maturity. It's also kinda sad. I would suggest to watch the disney movie first, and they should remember that not all books have happy endings. (sorry if that sounds rude) and so, my honest answer is that they should wait until they're 13-14 before reading the book. I read it at that age.
Haiden
I read it at 11 and I was perfectly fine! I understood the "sexual" scene (Hellfire song) in the Disney version and I was totally fine with the book.
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