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HP's 'maturation' - caveat emptor?
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From: Maia <maia>
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 21:48:44 -0500
I don't know how to answer Andrea's questions with sticking just to book one (!) but yes, I have read all three. I actually read a while ago, and then and back to back more recently. When rereading the first book a couple of days ago, I was surprised at how mild it was in comparison to the later two -- and somewhat relieved. I admit that I have been disturbed by the depressive and cynical currents that run more boldly through the books as they progress, and I had wondered how I had missed their weight in the first. On reread, I came to the conclusion that those elements are there in but are much less prominent.
Which brings me to a question for everyone -- if in fact the HP series continues to 'mature' as the books progress, what problems does this cause for teachers, librarians and parents? For example, I understand that teachers are reading <The Stone> to elementary school students. Understandably, those kids that can read on their own may well want to read , and then , and so on....
So now we have 3rd graders reading, which frankly, makes me very uncomfortable. One listmember (from ccbc or child_lit?, I can't remember) commented that the books are growing up faster than her children. But most parents don't pay that level of attention -- we're lucky if they read anything that their kids read; and most kids aren't going to deal well with being told that they don't get to find out what happens to Harry.
I can't think off the top of my head of any other series that has presented this particular issue, so I haven't a clue how it's been handled in the past. Comments? I'm wondering what the obligation is of the publisher to be consistent in what kind of material is included. Okay, most parents don't read what their kids read, but let's select the ones that do. Let's say that they read <The Stone>, and decide it's fine for 8 year old Clive or Lucia. (Which I'd debate, but I'll leave that for now.) Of that group, most will assume that #2, #3 and so on will be fine too. But if from to we've jumped suddenly from elementary to young adult/adult material, how do we warn the child or the parent? How much of this responsibility should fall to the author? The publisher? Librarian, parent, teacher...?
Maia
Received on Wed 10 Nov 1999 08:48:44 PM CST
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 21:48:44 -0500
I don't know how to answer Andrea's questions with sticking just to book one (!) but yes, I have read all three. I actually read a while ago, and then and back to back more recently. When rereading the first book a couple of days ago, I was surprised at how mild it was in comparison to the later two -- and somewhat relieved. I admit that I have been disturbed by the depressive and cynical currents that run more boldly through the books as they progress, and I had wondered how I had missed their weight in the first. On reread, I came to the conclusion that those elements are there in but are much less prominent.
Which brings me to a question for everyone -- if in fact the HP series continues to 'mature' as the books progress, what problems does this cause for teachers, librarians and parents? For example, I understand that teachers are reading <The Stone> to elementary school students. Understandably, those kids that can read on their own may well want to read , and then , and so on....
So now we have 3rd graders reading, which frankly, makes me very uncomfortable. One listmember (from ccbc or child_lit?, I can't remember) commented that the books are growing up faster than her children. But most parents don't pay that level of attention -- we're lucky if they read anything that their kids read; and most kids aren't going to deal well with being told that they don't get to find out what happens to Harry.
I can't think off the top of my head of any other series that has presented this particular issue, so I haven't a clue how it's been handled in the past. Comments? I'm wondering what the obligation is of the publisher to be consistent in what kind of material is included. Okay, most parents don't read what their kids read, but let's select the ones that do. Let's say that they read <The Stone>, and decide it's fine for 8 year old Clive or Lucia. (Which I'd debate, but I'll leave that for now.) Of that group, most will assume that #2, #3 and so on will be fine too. But if from to we've jumped suddenly from elementary to young adult/adult material, how do we warn the child or the parent? How much of this responsibility should fall to the author? The publisher? Librarian, parent, teacher...?
Maia
Received on Wed 10 Nov 1999 08:48:44 PM CST
