In the Woods question

I read it a while ago, but if I remember correctly the girl who was murdered was sexually assulted. I think, again if I remember correctly that incest occurred is thought to have occurred. I think there may be some language.
If she is looking for a mystery that has what I would call a logical progression, where the reader tries to figure out what happened, this in my opinion is not it.
As a fan of mysteries, this was not one of my favorites. There are many, many better ones out there.

This is not a book for children. It concerns three young children going into the woods and only one coming out alive with slashes across his back and blood filling his shoes. It is a very good book, but I would hold off on letting your child read it.

The character grapples with another rape and murder (of a child) and whether he wants to know what happened in the woods as he has no memory.

This book is horrible - waste of time. Have your child read Sherlock Holmes.

I agree with everyone here. This book is not for children. I can't imagine a 14 year old even being interested in this book. It was great but not for children.

I read "worse" books (My Sweet Audrina by V.C Andrews) than this at a much younger age than 14 and it hasn't scarred me any. If your child is a gifted reader and isn't too sheltered they can easily read this book. However, I wouldn't recommend it for your average teen.

I didn't care for the book, and I wouldn't encourage a 13 year old to read it. My parents never monitored my reading, and I read a lot of stuff from their bookshelves that upset me. Plus they gave me books that were too mature for me. I second the motion...Sherlock Holmes.

I loved the book and actually it was recommended to me by my (13 at the time) female cousin. I am 36. She loved the book. I think it depends on the child. My cousin also read The Host by Stephanie Meyers after reading the Twlight series. She preferred The Host because it was written for adults.

What I have done for my daughter (age 16) when she was younger was read the books before her, specially Ellen Hopkins books.

You worry about exposing your child to profanity, but not to violent stories about murder? Something is off there.

I wouldn't recommend this for a girl teen, but only because I expect she'd have trouble connecting to Ryan as a narrator. Doesn't Cassie narrate one of the sequels? That'll be the one a girl will like.

I personally don't believe in censoring anyone's reading. Thirteen is old enough for almost anything, I think. However, you know your child best, and you know your parenting style. Why don't you read it first, and then make a decision?

I agree with those who felt it a waste of time. Not only is it not for a 14 year-old, but it's a bit boring, for any age.