12 and 14 year olds reading young adult books with sexual content

[Anonymous]

Another one here who read that kind of book as a middle schooler and emerged unscathed. Totally normal, nothing to be alarmed about, as long as you know what they're reading and the books are not complete trash (e.g., disturbing porn that they might not be ready to absorb).

[Anonymous]

I read Flowers in the Attic in 7th grade when I was 12. I think books that are erotica are not okay but books with sex scenes are, because ... people have sex. I am fairly certain by 9th grade I was reading my mom's Danielle Steel books with her blessing.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Mom, if you don't let your kids read about sex they won't have any sexual feelings and for sure won't have sex until wedding night. Go for it!

[Anonymous]

Also agree not to censor, but I also read VC andrews and Jean Auel around those ages, but interestingly the VC Andrews haunts me 25 years later, while I don't recall really any sex in the Clan of the Cave Bear. Is it sexual? Maybe I should give those books a re-read

And btw, Judy Blume is Boynton compared to Flowers in the Attic et al.

[Anonymous]

Wait, is 50 shades of grey the new flowers in the attic?!

[Anonymous]

The VC Andrews references are bringing me back back in time! Another poster who read those in 7th grade-ish and remained almost celibate through high school! Also I vividly remember passing Deenie back and forth under our desks in 5th grade - open to the relevant pages, of course (I can almost visually picture the paragraph describing the sex scene).

[Anonymous]

Clan of the cave bear isn't too graphic, but the sequels are pretty much just soft core porn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clan of the cave bear isn't too graphic, but the sequels are pretty much just soft core porn.

OMG yes they were! I think I read them in 9th grade ... so I was 14. Wow, I still remember those passages!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clan of the cave bear isn't too graphic, but the sequels are pretty much just soft core porn.

OMG yes they were! I think I read them in 9th grade ... so I was 14. Wow, I still remember those passages!

Yup, remember the term "first pleasures". I'll never forget Jondalar.

[Anonymous]

Ok, forget OP's question -- now I want to read these books! Which are best??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just did a quick search on kids iPads and found books that were meant for 17+. They have very explicit sexual content. I'm absolutely mortified that my husband and I didn't catch this. Both my kids have always been avid readers...just trying to figure out how we went from Harry potter series to these steamy books! What's done is done, but trying to figure out how to approach this without overreacting.

OP, have you read the books, sat down and looked at them, or just seen that they are meant for "17+" What do you consider "explicit sexual content." Does this mean you did a word search?

[Anonymous]

Yeah I was pretty sexually aware at a young age and would have read anything I could get my hands on that included sex.

Didn't lose my virginity til age 19 if it makes you feel any better....

[Anonymous]

It's ok to masturbate to that material, which is what they are doing. Just reassure them.

[Anonymous]

Big deal. I read the "Shere Hit Report on Female Sexuality" when I was 12.

They could be doing much worse.

I just hope you've had the "masturbation" talk with them and let them know it's completely normal and healthy and doesn't cause cancer...even if she does it 2-3x a day.

[Anonymous]

I read all of my mother's Harold Robbins' books around 12. They were so entertaining. My mother never said a word.