Breaking Dawn and my 11 year old...

[Boobs]

She's read the first two books in the Twilight series and is obsessed. Someone just told me that Breaking Dawn is absolutely not appropriate for tweens. Has anybody read it? What do you think?

[AuntNi]

I don't think I would be comfortable with an 11-year-old reading it. The sex parts aren't graphic, but there is a part toward the end that might be scary and upsetting. It kind of freaked me out, and I'm 38!

If you don't mind spoilers, I will be more specific. If you want to be sure, you should read it first.

[minsca]

I think it depends on the 11 yr old. I know I read a lot worse things when I was 11. ei "Clan of the Cave Bear" (my mom told me not too ) Breaking Dawn is definetly more of an adult book compared to the other three, but it isn't sexually graphic, and personally I was more scared watching some Harry Potter movies then reading Breaking Dawn. My advice is that only you know your kid, read the book yourself and judge for yourself.

[Boobs]

Thanks for the replies! I haven't even started the first book yet, so I hate to skip to the last. I'm really not comfortable with her reading a book with any kind of sex in it, graphic or not. I might be a prude, but I'm okay with that!
It's just not fair, though. I didn't really want her reading the series anyway but caved to the peer pressure and mania of it all. That's what I get for not sticking to my guns, I guess.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Yes there is sex in it, but I remember reading Judy Blume books with more "graphic" sex then Breaking Dawn. I also remember walking to the grocery store with my bff and buying romance novels and highlighting the sex scenes at around 11-13, so I guess I may not be a good barometer

[Tra1978]

I don't think the sex scenes are what would bother me with an 11 yr old reading it. I thought the "birth" was more inappropriate for younger audiences.

[Aubergine68]

My 10.5 yr old dd has read all books in the Twilight series repeatedly, but she is a mature kid and I read them first and have discussed them with her.

The sexual theme doesn't concern me as much but I'd say that the pregnancy/childbirth is pretty classic horror, although mildish classic horror. I told an adult friend going through a difficult first pg that she might want to skip Breaking Dawn for a while.

Sorta like how the later Harry Potter books are more disturbing than the first, and that makes them too disturbing for some younger readers, the fourth Twilight book is definitely more disturbing than the first.

[PatienceAndLove]

At least the sexual bits are between a married couple, and not just smut!
But I agree that the birth is rather disturbing.

[Cloverlove]

Why aren't you comfortable with your dd reading a book with any kind of sex in it? No judgement- just wondering.

DS is 11 and I was fine with him reading it. I was more disappointed that the writing was so poor.

[boobybunny]

I pre read the series for my almost 10 year old daughter. (like ten in 5 days)

She is still on book three.

The "sex" scene is not really sex... it is heavy kissing and then she wakes up in a storm of down. (torn pillows) Seriously, it is not too sexual... "are you there god, it's me Margret" and "forever" are MUCH MORE graphic.



BUT, and this is a big butt.. We are open about sex in our home. The children were there when their youngest brother was born (6 to 8 year seperation) and my daughter sees so much penis (her brothers, at changing, bath time, peeing outside on the farm, geldings and stallions at the barn) that I hardly think she will be intimidated by what the future holds for her.

She has older "former" sisters that have both been pregnant or given birth before age 20, as non married, uneducated (lacking high school diploma) and undriven (more into drinking than "bettering" themselves) to actively ask me how to prevent pregnancy, how to stop kissing before it is too late and how to RESPECT herself. Btw... their mom was afraid of teaching them about sex, the feelings of it, how to be prepared, and how to protect themselves.

Hiding sex from your child will end you up in more trouble than being open about the feelings, the protection and the education of sexuality.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/.../101-31.0.html

Use this tiny little peek into the wonders of sex as a teaching tool, talk to your kiddo, help her protect herself. Teach her that everytime she has sex... while using protection or not... she runs the chance of becoming a mom.


**** spoken as a grand daughter of a woman afraid to educate her daughters about sex.. my mom got pregnant the first time she had sex, and ended up in a horrible abusive marriage.... My grandma ended up giving me sooooooo much sex ed that I was 27 when I decided I wanted to get pregnant and did.

My second husband... his parents taught him, and gave him the tools he needed to protect himself... He was a virgin at the age 32. He knew that sex could mean fatherhood. He waited for sex until he was "ready" for fatherhood.
(but his hot water bill was super high from all the showers )

REAL education is always better than the shameful whisperings of friends and the persuasive powers of hormone and boys.

[Boobs]

Right, but there's a difference between sex education, which I happen to be all for, and letting kids read smut.