I’m a firm believer that kids, especially over the age of ten, should read what they understand.  In my experience, kids will read adult or young adult books based on what concepts they can understand and what they feel comfortable with.

It’s a parent’s job, not to censor what their children read, but to be there to help them to understand it.

My guidelines will try to point out things that a parent might worry about their child reading. A parent should be informed about what their children are reading, and when in doubt, should read the book themselves first.  Your local librarian is an excellent resource for finding age-appropriate books.  Other parents and the internet are also good sources.  When in doubt, e-mail me and I will try to give you more information about a book. 

Don’t underestimate your kid though, they can understand a lot more complex things than you might like to admit, and the best defense is to keep them informed. The unknown, the unspoken, and the unjustly forbidden holds a lure that can lead a kid to trouble.

Encourage your kids to read what they enjoy.  That’s the key to raising a reader.