Harry Potter Question - Potential Spoilers!

[bluelikejazz]

My boss' 11 year old just read the first HP.  Great.  Boss want's to know if I would let daughter borrow the rest of them (I let all 3 of the kids borrow/read my Narnia books - I have no problem with book lending). 

Boss' family is very religious and he initially wasn't going to let them read it at all (wizards and such).  He apparently gave into that.  But asked me about the age appropriateness of the HP series.  I told him that I wasn't sure that the later books (mainly 4-7) in the series are age appropriate and encouraged him to read them along side his daughter so he at least knew what she was reading.  He doesn't seem very interested in the idea, but does seem somewhat concerned.  I'm still trying to convince him to listen to them on his 1 hr commute if he isn't interested in reading them.

Part of me is all "you said your piece, not your family, not your problem, stay out of it" and part of me says "given his initial concern with wizards, as well as his concern with protecting his kid, and the fact that they are your books, you have a right to speak up".  FWIW we're in a small group, and while he is my supervisor, we are all very close and very open about our personal lives. 

What are your thoughts on the age appropriateness of the series as well as this specific situation?

Now that I've read what I just typed, I should just stay out of it, shouldn't I?

[booknerd]

As far as age appropriateness, I have an 11 year old SIL who has seen all eight movies. I don't know that she fully understood and grasped every theme and detail in them (and really they are missing a lot from the books). She enjoyed them and watches them whenever they are on ABC Family. She won't read the books though, no matter how much I pester her about it lol.   

I don't know if you should say anything or not? I think if he is concerned he could read/listen to the books or if it is a time issue he could watch the movies to get a general idea? If I were in your situation I would offer to lend him my HP DVDs and let him decide on his own. If I had an 11 year old I would read along with them because as the series progresses there are some themes that are a bit more mature and maybe an 11 year old wouldn't understand?

[hopecounts]

As a mom I would hesitate for my daughter to read books 5-7 (4 would be iffy depending on the kid) at age 11 without reading them along with her or pre-reading them so I can talk it through with her as needed.
I don't necessarily think they're not age appropriate but they are pretty intense/dark/Heavy and I would want my daughter to be able to come to me and discuss those things if she wants.

Since it's your boss I wouldn't push it but I might make one last offer of audiobook/movies/suggest he read with the kid as a bonding thing. My concern would be issues if the kid gets freaked out or something and he blames you (it doesn't sound like that is likely to happen but...)
I might even let him know of any good summaries that are out there that he could read to get an idea of what each book is like.

[GilliC]

Isn't an 11 year old a 6th grader? I'm not a parent, but I can't think of anything in any of the HP books that seems age-inappropriate for a 6th grader. Am I forgetting something noteworthy, because I don't remember anything more sexual than a few kisses and no graphic violence.

On Amazon, even book 7 is listed as "9 and up" and the Publisher's Weekly review says "Ages 9-12" Considering you've already mentioned it, and it's listed as age appropriate, I think you've done more than due diligence.

[msmerymac]

Jun 4, 2013 6:10:27 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Isn't an 11 year old a 6th grader? I'm not a parent, but I can't think of anything in any of the HP books that seems age-inappropriate for a 6th grader. Am I forgetting something noteworthy, because I don't remember anything more sexual than a few kisses and no graphic violence.

On Amazon, even book 7 is listed as "9 and up" and the Publisher's Weekly review says "Ages 9-12" Considering you've already mentioned it, and it's listed as age appropriate, I think you've done more than due diligence.

I think the deaths of several characters are one thing that upsets some people or makes the books more mature. 

I think it depends on the 11 year old, but for the most part, they're fine. They're also one of those things that I think you get more out of, and different things from, by reading them again at an older age. So sure, why not start out at age 11? That's when I read Narnia, and I had a very different experience reading those books when I was in college. 

[bluelikejazz]

Jun 4, 2013 6:10:27 GMT -5 GilliC said:

Isn't an 11 year old a 6th grader? I'm not a parent, but I can't think of anything in any of the HP books that seems age-inappropriate for a 6th grader. Am I forgetting something noteworthy, because I don't remember anything more sexual than a few kisses and no graphic violence.

On Amazon, even book 7 is listed as "9 and up" and the Publisher's Weekly review says "Ages 9-12" Considering you've already mentioned it, and it's listed as age appropriate, I think you've done more than due diligence.

Thanks!  I think you're right.  I'd said my piece, and now it's in his hands to decide.