Too Young For The Golden Compass?
Posted by alli on 12-11-2007Last week I wrote angrily about The Golden Compass and how the whole anti-god message media blitz was bumming me out. A whole bunch of readers commented. I appreciate the interest and exchange so much, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Many of you pointed out that one of the positive things about the controversy surrounding The Golden Compass, both the book and the film, is that it inspires dialogue — religious and otherwise. All of the many subjects the story deals with really get people worked up and talking. I think the ability to rock the boat, question what we know, and get closer to knowing ourselves is one of the most valuable characteristics in really good young adult literature. Moreover, these events are developmental…teens need to do this to mature. The sincerity and the urgency is what I love about this genre. Any opportunity for youth to explore, discover, talk, and be heard is essential and good young adult books so often deliver that.
That being said, I think most would agree none of the books in the His Dark Materials Trilogy are for young children. But are they even "young-adult"? I think parents are hesitant to drag their 10 year old to this movie if they've read the books. And rightfully so. But, how young is too young? There's some heavy stuff in there. Frankly, I know as many, if not more adults that have read the series than teens. Interestingly, I feel like this issue comes up most often when we adults are uncomfortable with something. It's usually our issue, isn't it? In my experience teens are far more capable of handling difficult subject matter than we give them credit for, and what they can't make sense of, often gets ignored. In this article from Slate, a mom struggles with this very dilemma and comes to the conclusion that reading the naughty book that is too grown-up for us, is often the whole point.
I loved her comparison to Flowers in The Attic. When I was in seventh grade I read Sydney Sheldon's Rage of Angels. Soooo inappropriate, and I couldn't put it down. However, much the adult subject matter was lost on me, went completely over my head. And remember Judy Blume's Wifey? Please! My parents should have been so lucky for me to have been sneaking The Golden Compass.
December 11th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
My son read the books when he was 10 or 11. I started reading them later on his recommendation. I've only gotten through The Golden Compass so far. The others are in the "to read" stack.
We saw the movie together this past weekend.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I red this series when I was 10…not to mention that I went to a Catholic School. I loved the book but somehow the whole anti god thing was lost on my 10 year old mind. Reading it again now ten years later I have taken something totally new out of the experience. I think books like this reveal several layers of meaning that progress with age, which is part of why they are so good.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I seem to recall reading that Mr. Pullman doesn't necessarily think that His Dark Materials are "young adult". They were marketed as such, but that was the publisher's call, not the author's.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I'm unfamiliar with Pullman's books, but I remember reading some pretty dark material when I was younger and most of it being way over my head, so I'd get bored and put the book down.
Besides, it's somewhat hypocritical of the religious faction who're attacking these books as unsuitable for children when they're quite happy to encourage children to read a 1,000 page book written in an archaic language full of murder, incest, violence and the supernatural.
The retort would be that the Bible provides moral education - but so does any other well written literature, often the books dealing with the darkest themes are those which have more substantial messages and moral dilemmas, which intelligent children will be able to think through and learn from.