I have followed everyone’s advice. I skim read the first book this weekend and I always question him about what he had reads if I think there will be any issues. I think one can read a book on many different levels as well. He has read Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm etc. but his understanding of the story and themes will change I am sure if he re-reads them when older. He has also read the Roman Mysteries so it is interesting that DAO mentioned those in the context of Hunger Games.

Bel how did he handle Lord of the Flies? My DS is always begging to read it and to read To Kill A Mockingbird, but I've said no because he's 9 and I don't want him to be thrown by things which he can't understand emotionally, even if the words aren't beyond him.

He read it at the start of year 5, so was only just 9. I was a bit concerned about how he would deal with the themes so we discussed it as he was reading it. It didn't seem to upset or worry him. I think he read it on a fairly simplistic level, but he picked up on the conflict between good and evil with Ralph and Jack and the fact that things went wrong without adults and rules.

I didn't have a problem with my (then) 11 year old reading the Hunger Games. She is a voracious reader anyway but absolutely devoured this trilogy. I don't think I would have had a problem with her reading them at 9. I sometimes think the content of the 6 o'clock news is more nightmare inducing than anything a 9 year old could read. I've had to answer some very uncomfortable questions about certain words which I'm sure would be censored on this forum. My 7 year old DD is at the moment on the 4th Harry Potter. (The one where Dumbledore you know whats- I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone )Is the content appropriate for a 7 year old? Probably not. I wouldn't stop her reading it though.

It depends on how sensitive they are but most 9 year olds are fine with that sort of stuff.

I think the Hunger Games is fine - my 10 year old has read them.

She is half way though the Cherub series - I do have reservations about some of the later books. As the characters grow up, the stories deal with more and more relationship issues and less adventure.

I have read them all and enjoyed them greatly - depends how mature your child is.

DS1 (Yr11) now seems to be "doing" Lord of the Flies. DS2 has a habit of picking up the others' cast-offs but might give this one a miss due to its title as he is very squeamish about insects

(Yes, this is the same 9 yr old who "devoured" the entire Hunger Games trilogy a few months back...).

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.Groucho Marx

Personally I should keep anyone younger than Year 11 away from Lord of the Flies because of the content; ongoing sadistic violence as well as rape imagery (in the killing of the pig scene). Of course younger children would not pick up on that, but it just isn't appropriate.

What an interesting thread. As a 'health worker', involved in neurological development, this is a very important discussion. Not dissimilar to the questions surrounding violent computer games etc...
I am going to try not to judge anyone but merely wonder if we should be pleased that our children are unaffected by these stories? Are they REALLY taking it in their strides? Are we really happy that they are? Are they SO immune to this stuff that it raises no issues?
As a child, at this age, I was reading Nancy Drew, The Narnia Chronicles, abridged classics like Pride and Prej. I am DC no 3 and so could help myself to anything from the bookshelves - DPs were an Author and a Teacher.
I'm really concerned that if we put this stuff in front of our DCs they will read it....children who like reading will try anything - but their brains are super absorbent at this age - they are developing major neural pathways which determine many aspects of their personalities and character. Their brains are so vulnerable to this stuff.
And yes I agree actually about the 6 o'clock news. Which is why the BBC invented Newsround.
Jumping ahead a few years I know but listen to the debates about young people and internet **** and what it is doing to their expectations and ultimately their relationships. It's all part of the same big picture.
Call me Victorian but children sometimes need to be protected, even from books.

Forum had edited the word after 'internet'. I'm sure you all know it begins with a P!