Honestly I think these are kind of trash. If you think your kid is ready for explicit sex in books she’s old enough to select those books herself (and as others have suggested there’s better out there) and I don’t think there’s anything to reccomend them from a literary perspective…

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous
Do you have any idea how explicit the content that kids are exposed to already, even at a much younger age is??

Please tell more, Prudence.

I have definite memories of reading it in third or fourth. I would not recommend that. The rape scene went over my head. I didn't read the sequels until old enough to understand the sex scenes.

This is ridiculous
Do you have any idea how explicit the content that kids are exposed to already, even at a much younger age is??

I definitely read it in HS. My biology teacher recommended it! Love her.

Anonymous wrote:I think it is the sequels that had more sex. There is a rape in the first book, but Jondalar and his lovingly described massive prehistoric schlong did not come along until the sequels.

Lol at “massive prehistoric schlong.” That Jondalar and his prodigious Neolithic manhood. Who can resist!

I read the books in HS, fwiw.

Anonymous wrote:I think it is the sequels that had more sex. There is a rape in the first book, but Jondalar and his lovingly described massive prehistoric schlong did not come along until the sequels.

PP here, I'd rather my kid read Jondalar sex than rape, though. And doesn't the rape result in a baby (does it die?) and she's treated horribly becauseshes blonde? Ugh. Honestly, people read them for the sex and Jondalar is at least fairly enlightened about it. Better than the Outlander dude, I think.

OP, just let your kid read some straight up romance by feminist authors, it will be healthier.

Anonymous wrote:I definitely read them in 8th/9th grade. Lots of sex but less messed up than all the V.C. Andrews books I read around the same time.

The first book actually has a plot. The sequels are just Ayla having sex in various circumstances while single handedly inventing every innovation that occurred in human civilization.

Exactly. Lol.

I snuck skimming/reading the first book at a church used booksale when I was about 13 because I didn't think my mom would let me buy it. The rape and Neanderthal stuff was a bit offputting. I think it's really a series for adults.

Also there have been a lot of discoveries about prehistoric Europeans since those books were written. Why not find some good non-fiction history books about those cultures? At the same age, I read a couple non-fiction books about the Celts and a few really cool books about medieval life.

I definitely read them in middle school. I wouldn't disallow them, but I also wouldn't explicitly recommend it.

I definitely read them in 8th/9th grade. Lots of sex but less messed up than all the V.C. Andrews books I read around the same time.

The first book actually has a plot. The sequels are just Ayla having sex in various circumstances while single handedly inventing every innovation that occurred in human civilization.

I think it is the sequels that had more sex. There is a rape in the first book, but Jondalar and his lovingly described massive prehistoric schlong did not come along until the sequels.

I think HS and up, and maybe don't start with the first book which I recall has a lot of sexual violence. In general, if the reader is looking for spicy stuff, there are more enlightened series.

I read it in 6th, thanks grandma for letting me browse your shelves. This was too young.

Good reads says over 15 due to the descriptive sex scenes.

Apologies if this belongs in terms or another thread. But what age would you allow your child to read this series? I think I may have been in HS? But cannot recall.