Anonymous wrote:I hated Animal Farm with a passion. Absolutely ruined reading for me, an avid reader. Proceed with caution.

Really? Good excuse.

6th grade is when I read them.

I hated Animal Farm with a passion. Absolutely ruined reading for me, an avid reader. Proceed with caution.

Anonymous wrote:My DD read Animal Farm in 5th on her own and enjoyed it. Shes an advanced reader and has read some very difficult books, so this one was easy. She enjoyed the concept.

The concept is an allegory. My kid got Marx and Stalin, had no idea who Trotsky was or any idea what historical events the events in the book mapped to outside of the broad context of the Russian revolution. Sure the book was an easy read, but does that matter if the reader misses 90% what is going on?

Anonymous wrote:10 or 11 is good

No, it isn't

Anonymous wrote:What is a good age to read these books?

My kid read animal farm in 8th or 9th (through school). Same for LOTF (which, I don't know why they are still pushing this stupid book on kids. It's a terrible read.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read LOTF to DS in 5th as a bedtime story, along with many other classics.

Topic aside, the writing is beautiful.

However, DS is an advanced learner.

OMG, LOTF as a bedtime story cracks me up. He must have a thick skin not to have had nightmares. Good for you both!

its slightly terrifying- i remember reading it summer of 6th r 7th grade and having to put teh book down and sob between chapters. Its is o utterly emotionally draining and taxing. How'd you do that? and I am not a super emotional crier type person at all! I think teh only other book that has moved me ti tears is Mill on the Floss and that is b/c my family experienced the same sort of 'old home sadness' through a specific misfortune and illness.

I tend to really stress the emotional aspect of things to my advanced learners b/c they can sometime seem slightly apathetic and sociopathic b/c they understand the facts without the emotions. Like my kid who said losing their grandmother was normal part of nature like 5 days after my mom died, it put everything in perspective for me but wasn't necessarily sensitive to her sibling's grief.

Mine read Animal Farm in middle school and loved it, but I think she would really benefit from reading it again when she's older. She doesn't mind re-reading books, though, so I'm sure at some point she will pick it up again.

My 10th grader is reading Lord of the Flies. I believe I read it in 9th grade. Not sure why anyone is suggesting 5th grade??

13. these classic 7th grade books

My DD read Animal Farm in 5th on her own and enjoyed it. Shes an advanced reader and has read some very difficult books, so this one was easy. She enjoyed the concept.

My kid read them in 8th

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Animal farm takes a deep understanding of revolutionary through 1920s USSR to really understand the allegory. I think a European history class is the correct time.

+1. I read it in HS World History.

Agree. My 8th grader is reading LOTF for English class. There is a lot of class discussion around it and essays being written. In the this context, she is getting more out of than if she read it years ago and independently. Same with Animal Farm. I wouldn’t recommend it until high school- when they take world history

Agree. DC just finished reading it in 8th grade but the teacher had literally no discussion with them about the history or context so it was pointless. These are good books that are age appropriate for middle school, but without an adult (parent or teacher) to talk through and analyze the books they will miss a lot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Animal farm takes a deep understanding of revolutionary through 1920s USSR to really understand the allegory. I think a European history class is the correct time.

+1. I read it in HS World History.

Agree. My 8th grader is reading LOTF for English class. There is a lot of class discussion around it and essays being written. In the this context, she is getting more out of than if she read it years ago and independently. Same with Animal Farm. I wouldn’t recommend it until high school- when they take world history

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An on-level 4th grader can certainly read these books but would likely get more out of them with more life experience and historical context. I agree with the 7th grade suggestions. If your kid wants to pick them up, that's one thing. But I wouldn't suggest them till later middle school.

I’m PP and I agree. He asked for them on his own. I’m not sure where he got the idea from, but there were some kids in his class reading some advanced stuff. He understood more than I expected, but certainly not at the level he would have or will when older.

Which is why I'ma big fan of the right book at the right age, because you won't go back and read most of them again. Consider what a 4th grader will not get to read because they were choosing books that would have had a bigger impact in 7th -- its like a double loss.

+1

I’d suggest Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH for the 4th grader.

Agree with sentiment from first PP and the recommendation from additional PO.