The Stand is much, much better. |
I’m another one who read IT - and quite a few other Stephen King novels - starting around age 9.
I wouldn’t recommend IT for a 10yo (I have a 10yo myself, btw). The sex scene at the end stuck with me for years. Most of the violence I could brush off as not realistic. But I obsessed over that scene for a long time. Some SK novels I would recommend: The Eyes of the Dragon, The Dark Tower (Wizard and Glass was my favorite, but you really should read them in order), Salem’s Lot, Different Seasons (includes the stories that were made into Stand By Me and Shawshank Redemption movies, although the other two stories weren’t as good). Note that several of these do have graphic sex and violence, just not to the degree of IT. |
Fine with me, but I don't censor reading material and none of my kids are very sensitive. They're the sort who will put a book down if they're bothered or bored by it, and anything they don't understand flies right over their heads anyway. |
It really depends how you phrase it. I was also this kid, and my parents did not believe in censoring books. TV and movies, they were very strict on, but not books. I think I read IT when I was 10 or 11. A lot of the sex stuff went over my head, though the violence did not. My mother never said a word about what I was reading except one day at the library when I was about 12 and picked up "Go Ask Alice." She saw it and for the first and only time in my life, said that were some themes and material that she thought I should be older in order to fully grasp and she would prefer I didn't read it now. But that if I really wanted to check it out, she wouldn't stop me. I put it back. (Lest you think I was an obedient child, I snuck forbidden TV shows every time she left the house) I picked it up again when I was 16 and understood why she'd wanted me to wait. It was the fact that she almost never commented negatively on what I was reading except for just this once, and left the choice in my hands, that made me listen to her. I knew she didn't disapprove of books lightly if ever, so the fact that she didn't want me to read this one made me trust that maybe I'd be better off leaving it for now. I guess that might make another kid more determined to read this shocking book, but it depends. |
Scary as anything. Don’t let her read it in the tub for sure. |
I read everything when I was 10. Nothing scared me or phased me. If she wants to read it, I'd say go ahead. |
No. That’s too young |
Agree with the PPs. I'm not much for censoring too much either, but would definitely draw the line with IT.
And, to the other PPs who say they don't censor at all, that's fine. But, there's nothing wrong with saying that a book is not appropriate for your kid at age X, but that you're happy to let your kid read it a few years later. I don't think of that as censoring, as much as keeping reading material age-appropriate. Agree there is so much fantastic stuff written for kids that age out there now. No need to rush into anything that can wait a few more years. |
I read every SK book back in the day, but his gratuitous nature of his writing (unnecessary language/sex, etc) is disturbing. |
Oh jeez. It’s “fazed.” |