Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with a parent deciding it is okay for their elementary child to read this young adult book. Their decision.

I would have a real problem with that book being made available for any student to read in a grade school classroom library. Very inappropriate given the content of the book and the controversial nature of what age the book is written for.

I have a HUGE problem with banning it from school libraries precisely because it should be an individual family decision. I do not want librarians deciding what should and shouldn't be available to my child.

Not school libraries, elementary school class libraries. Big difference.

The publisher, Scholastic, lists it as a young adult novel for grades 6-8. Middle school. Not elementary school. Still, having it in the school library is very different than having it on the classroom bookshelf of a 3rd or 4th grade class.

Having it in a middle school classroom library, fine. Not elementary school.

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with a parent deciding it is okay for their elementary child to read this young adult book. Their decision.

I would have a real problem with that book being made available for any student to read in a grade school classroom library. Very inappropriate given the content of the book and the controversial nature of what age the book is written for.

I have a HUGE problem with banning it from school libraries precisely because it should be an individual family decision. I do not want librarians deciding what should and shouldn't be available to my child.

My 5th grader said everyone was reading it, but she has no interest. She is very sensitive and knows what it's about. I respect that. There are plenty of other things to read. If she wanted to, I think I would have let her read it.

Anonymous wrote:I don't see any need to keep it away from them. Kids will eventually be exposed to violence, and sheltering them won't help.

I agree. Let's bring out Lord of the Flies for the advanced reading group in 3rd grade.

Why does my damn phone freeze up and double post on quick reply??? Grrrr!

I have no problem with a parent deciding it is okay for their elementary child to read this young adult book. Their decision.

I would have a real problem with that book being made available for any student to read in a grade school classroom library. Very inappropriate given the content of the book and the controversial nature of what age the book is written for.

Middle school, no biggie. A fourth grade classroom with kids as young as 9, big problem. That should be a decision for parents to make for their family.

I have no problem with a parent deciding it is okay for their elementary child to read this young adult book. Their decision.

I would have a real problem with that book being made available for any student to read in a grade school classroom library. Very inappropriate given the content of the book and the controversial nature of what age the book is written for.

Middle school, no biggie. A fourth grade classroom with kids as young as 9, big problem. That should be a decision for parents to make for their family.

I don't see any need to keep it away from them. Kids will eventually be exposed to violence, and sheltering them won't help.

Anonymous wrote:My 4th grade DD was given the book in 3rd grade, for her 9th birthday. I put it away for when she was older (I read the trilogy). Then I found out a month ago in school that she was reading it - that the book was in her classroom. Now she's on the second one. I think she's happy to know what all the talk has been about. She hasn't had nightmares (she's not a particularly sensitive kid) or any deep insights about it.

Well, come on, it's not exactly a deep book.

My 4th grade DD was given the book in 3rd grade, for her 9th birthday. I put it away for when she was older (I read the trilogy). Then I found out a month ago in school that she was reading it - that the book was in her classroom. Now she's on the second one. I think she's happy to know what all the talk has been about. She hasn't had nightmares (she's not a particularly sensitive kid) or any deep insights about it.

I have two teenagers and never censored their reading. the most important thing is that they read, not the quality necessarily of the writing. Kids go through a period of reading a lot of crap and then they move on but if they don't go through that period, they may never develop a love of learning. This is what the experts have told me. Unless you see some tangible sign that your DC is really disturbed by this, let him read what he wants.

I wouldn't let my 4th grader read it for two important reasons:

1) Kid on kid violence.
2) Poor quality of the writing/story itself.

The movie was terrible.

Depends on the kid.

I let my 2nd grader read it. He's very emotionally balanced. He is also very interested in interpersonal relationships and how they work. He was fine.

My 4th grader hasn't read it, and I hope he doesn't ask. It's the sort of thing that he would find very upsetting.

There are threads on this from last spring. People are all over the board on it. I let my fourth grader see the movie and it was fine. About half of my friends let their kids of the same age see it and the other half wouldn't let their high school kids see it.

what grade did your kids read Hunger Games? mine is 4th grade and not sure if totally appropriate for him. he likes it, and I know of younger kids reading it.