Would you let an 8 year old read a book about the holocaust?

Question

I took a holocaust class in last year in college and we had to read this book about a womans holocaust survival story. I really enjoyed the book so I gave the book to my older sister to read thinking she would also enjoy it. My sister did not read the book but she did let her 8 year old daughter read it. I learned about this because she told my brother about it on the phone. This was upsetting to me. I asked my sister "Did she read the book I gave you?" Her reply was "Yes. She got very upset reading it and I couldn't calm her down." Had I known the book would have ended up in my nieces hands I would never have given my sister the book as I find it inappropriate for an 8 year old to be reading because there are disturbing parts in it. Furthermore I find it irresponsible of my sister for letting her read the book when she herself didn't read the book first to be able to decide if it was suitable for a child to read. Would you have let an 8 year old read it?

Answer 1

Yes.... but only after I read it. I mean, there are books that I was reading about the holocaust at age 8. And I know several books that I would have no problem with my daughter or son reading about the holocaust. But then there are some I would. Or that I would edit until they got older (one book I especially like "Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany" has portions about a friend being caught with his hands in his pants and being told to use a prostitute and them going to a brothel type area... that's something I'd edit until my daughter/son was in their teens at least. But much of that book I wouldn't have a problem reading to her or reading with her at 8 years old.)



But I come from a home where my mom's rule was there were no banned books... but she had to read them all before we did and address any concerns she had. I believe the same way. My niece on the other hand... her mom let her read whatever she wanted. She read everything in the library. My SIL's excuse? My niece was a voracious reader and literally read EVERYTHING in the library, and ours is a HUGE library. Her mom simply couldn't keep up.

Answer 2

I wouldn't let an 8 year old read a book on the holocaust because chances are it'll just make them really upset and I wouldn't know how well an 8 year old would understand the event. Heck sometimes I get upset and cry a little when they talk about the victims and such on TV (like on the history channel). So no I would let an 8 year old read a book like that and I think you should have a talk with your sister about age appropriate books since there are some books you should wait until you are older to read.

Answer 3

i'm confident there are books that communicate with regard to the Holocaust and different wars that are acceptable for 8 3 hundred and sixty 5 days olds. only ought to go searching. The Holocaust DID happen, historic previous proves it, only like fossils instruct the existence of dinosaurs and different historic marine existence. I say it incredibly is extra efficient for her to appreciate those products at a youthful age somewhat than later in existence. to steer away from repeating the comparable errors of historic previous we ought to study the reality approximately our previous and try to not dedicate the comparable errors lower back, in any different case we as a society would be doomed to fail.

Answer 4

If the book was child friendly then sure I would allow an 8 year old to read the book. (meaning it explained everything in a way the child would understand)



but if the book was not child friendly then I would not allow an 8 year old to read the book. UNLESS the 8 year old was "mature" enough to handle the text. (Highly unlikely for an 8 year old but you never know...)



but since your niece could not calm down after reading the book I would not have allowed her to read it. Your sister probably thought that it was a child friendly autobiography (i think that's the term for a book written by the author about the author if not please correct me). So it was possibly a simple mistake. Irresponsible, yes, (weather your sister would have read the book or not) mistake, most likely.



But all in all it was irresponsible for her to give the book to an 8 year old if she hasn't read the book herself (unless the book has a VERY misleading title, which I highly doubt.)



But if it was a book about the holocaust I would not allow an 8 year old to read it unless I have read it first. And sadly, your sister is irresponsible for not reading the book herself.

Answer 5

I was a child with a high IQ. I started reading at 4, chapter books at 7, asked questions until my mom wanted to scream, and got ahold of my sisters algebra book and was teaching myself. The neighbors had Helter Skeltor about Charles Manson and I read it. The point is if the child is interested and maturw, I think it would be ok if her mother explained thing and had conversations about it. (I never told my parents about the neighbors book and I was alright). Now my daughter is bright and could read an adult book, I would not let her because of her maturity. Every child isn't equal and her mom should be smart enough to judge.

Answer 6

No. I've been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. I actually went a couple of days after the white supremacist shot and killed the guard, last summer. I found the whole museum quite disturbing, especially the pictures, videos, theme, and antiques. I would not have let an 8 year old read a book about it, unless it was simplified to the need of some children, like 'Number The Stars', possibly, also it couldn't contain any pictures.

Answer 7

it really depends on the book, im 17 and i knew about the holocaust when i was 8 and each year our school reading books had at least one holocaust book that we had to read from the first grade on, but they were mainly children modified books, like in kindergarden we read the childrens picture book "shape of fear shape of hope" about the holocaust and some other childrens book that had something to do with a butterfly, and as we got older, like first, second, third grade we read books "number the stars", "the devils arithmetic", and "the hidden children", because they were all holocaust books modified for children. i was a pretty mature reader and my parents never censored what i could and could not read, i read "ann frank" when i was 8 and "night" when i was 9 and was able to understand and handle them, so maybe your sister thought she could handle it, i wouldnt call her irresponsible, my parents didnt read everything i read before i read it even if it was a adult book, i was like lori, i read "helter skelter" when i was 10 and my parents hadnt read it before me and didnt have a problem with it, in fact my mom was the one who bought it for me. out of curiosity, what was the book? it could help answer the question better if we knew the exact content she was reading.

Answer 8

It really depends on the book. If it was given to college students, then definitely not. However, if it was a children's book such as "Hana's Suitcase" or "Luba: The Angel of Bergen-Belsen", then yes. Books about the Holocaust intended for children teach about tolerance and compassion, and less about the disgusting cruelty displayed in the camps. It's important for young kids to see why it's important to treat others fairly and not to discriminate.

Answer 9

depending upon the material in the book, I probably wouldn't. But if it was a book like "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" then yes, I would. If it was given out in a college Holocaust class, then definitely not. She may have just misunderstood that it was intended for her, instead of her daughter. Good luck!

Answer 10

I can't really say, because I don't know which book you're referring to.



The Holocaust is an intense subject, and I would expect a person of any age to be upset reading about it.



However upset your niece was, it's nothing compared to the children who lived through the Holocaust.



All the best.

Answer 11

it would depend on the book, and on the child. My nephew is 7 1/2, and one of those "old soul" type of kids, very mature for his age and very rational. He could easily read a book that was not too graphic, and not be traumatized (well, no more than any of us are by the holocaust). But my 8 yr old son, who is very emotional and immature, would not be able to handle it, period.

Answer 12

The links posted below are books that were downloaded online from pdf. Just click on the links and the full-length book will appear. I recommend these books for anyone seeking the truth about the Holocaust.

Answer 13

No, I feel everybody should learn about how horrible the holocaust was, But not at the age of 8....

Answer 14

I would not have let my 8 year old read it, but it's none of your business that your sister did let hers read it.



If she can't make intelligent decisions as a parent, too bad, but it's not your fault.

Answer 15

Yes, I would BUT I would have read it first and then perhaps with her so that we could discuss it if she was interested and I felt she could handle it.

Answer 16

No definitely not, kids should be happy and innocent and not know about such terrible things, they have plenty of time to do that when they are adults.

Answer 17

thats crazy! i am 25 and i AVOID anything related to the holacost because i already know enough, and it upsets me for WEEKS STRAIGHT when i hear a new story or a tv about it. Its all i can think about and im not even a child! Kids have a hard time with thier dogs dying, much less that much reality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! shame on your sister

Answer 18

no