Anonymous wrote:I read everything when I was 10. Nothing scared me or phased me. If she wants to read it, I'd say go ahead.

Oh jeez. It’s “fazed.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read it, but I thought it has an orgy near the end?

Yes, there is a scene in the book after the kids have defeated the It monster where they get lost in the tunnels and everyone panics, so Beverly Marsh tells them the only way they'll find their way out is if they unite through everyone having sex with her. If I remember correctly, it's a pretty lengthy scene of Beverly encouraging the boys to have sex with her and depicting the sex itself. It's basically a kiddie gang bang. In general I don't censor my kid's reading material either, but this is one where I would hold a line.

I read every SK book back in the day, but his gratuitous nature of his writing (unnecessary language/sex, etc) is disturbing.

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.

No. That’s too young

I read everything when I was 10. Nothing scared me or phased me. If she wants to read it, I'd say go ahead.

Anonymous wrote:My DD has been obsessed with IT since the movie came out and she heard about the general story from classmates and older siblings. She's an advanced reader and really wants to read the book. I have never censored any of her reading choices in the past, but don't know what to do about this one. It's been a long time since I read the book so I don't remember much. Common sense media mentions some very disturbing content and violence that I don't think she is ready for, but I don't like the idea of making books off limits ( movies I have no problem incensoribg). Would you let your 10 yo DD read IT? FWIW, she is not super sensitive and does enjoy the kid version of "horror."

Scary as anything. Don’t let her read it in the tub for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much everyone! As silly as it sounds, I feel much better continuing to hold the line and say no after all the feedback. I just wanted to make sure that I was not over-reacting. As far as book length, my DD breezed through all Harry Potter at 8 and recently devoured the His Dark Materials trilogy. Unfortunately, book length does not deter her when she is motivated. I have no doubt that she would and it to the end. Guess I need to gear up for a few years of tears and attempted convincing. Lol

OP, I was this kid, and realistically, she is going to read IT whether you want her to or not. If you tell her that it's a very long book that has some adult material that she will find upsetting and to wait until she's 12 or something, that might work. But it also might not. With a kid who is that motivated, it might be a better strategy to have her read it and talk about the material.

- had literally read 3 VC Andrews books by age 11 because my mom told me not to

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.

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.

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.

The Stand is much, much better.