kentuckymom Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I really want to see the Murder on the Orient Express movie when it comes out in November, and I'd kind of like to take my 12 year old and read the book with him first, but I can't decide whether it would be appropriate for him. I know I was reading Agatha Christie at his age, but I was also reading Flowers in the Attic, which I would never in a million years let my child read, so it's not as if my parents were carefully guiding my literature choices. I have generally been much more conservative with what I let him read and watch than my parents were with me. We've opened it up a bit more this year. He's now allowed to watch most PG 13 movies, and DH even watched Braveheart with him, skipping over a few objectionable scenes. He's making his way through Downtown Abbey with me, which is TV 14. So, what does the hive mind say, is he ready for Murder on the Orient Express or should I reread it and then go see it by myself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I wouldn't mind. Agatha Christie is rather tame. I read Murder On The Orient Express last year and was absolutely fascinated, but would have handed it over to my kid without any qualms if he could follow the story. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I was reading AC in junior high. I don't remember being dismayed about anything in it. But that was a long time ago and my memory could be faulty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Agreeing with previous posters. Murder on the Orient Express is very tame. No where near the mature content of Downton Abbey. :) Other Agatha Christie that my DS#1 (mystery lover) enjoyed in middle/high school was the Hercule Poirot casebook, a big collection of short stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckymom Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 Thanks for confirming my thoughts! My initial thought was that it would be great fine, but it's been decades since I read the book. And, yeah, I honestly feel kind of guilty letting him watch Downtown Abbey, but we were a few episodes in and he was enraptured before I realized it was TV 14. The rule is either he watches it with me or I watch it first and talk through anything particularly mature with him. He'd never been exposed to the concepts of either s*xual assault or prostitution before, and I actually think Downtown Abbey wasn't a bad way to see those portrayed on screen for the first time. They're much less "in your face" than in many shows that take place today. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 I'd let any kid who wanted to try read Agatha Christie, I think. They really are very tame, and even if they found the murders distasteful, or didn't understand elements, it wouldn't be in a way that was a problem. My kids are 7, 9 and 12, and they all love the David Suchet Poirot stories. Actually, we were about to sit down and watch Murder on the Orient Express this week, but Netflix had removed the series - we were all very disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 YES! Agatha Christie is perfect for middle schoolers! (She's "Exhibit A" in our house for how & why to jump right from the kids' side of the library to the adult side, bypassing the YA section entirely. :) ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 (edited) (She's "Exhibit A" in our house for how & why to jump right from the kids' side of the library to the adult side, bypassing the YA section entirely. :) ) Wah! No! Don't do that! :scared: :eek: There are truckloads of very valuable YA books out there! And not because students "need" a stepping stone between children and adult books (although YA can function that way if needed) -- but because there are some terrifically well-written don't-miss YA books that are really meaty for chewing for your middle school and high school Literature! [Just my unsolicited Public Service Announcement for the day, lol ] :tongue_smilie: Edited October 18, 2017 by Lori D. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knitgrl Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Speaking of British mystery writers and BBC shows, the Father Brown series by Chesterton is entertaining. They're all short stories. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 I remember reading Agatha Christie for middle school English class, and we got to watch some of the movies, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanDiegoMom Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 When my daughter was middle school aged, she devoured Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Those were her fallbacks when she ran out of reading material. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy the Valiant Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Wah! No! Don't do that! :scared: :eek: There are truckloads of very valuable YA books out there! And not because students "need" a stepping stone between children and adult books (although YA can function that way if needed) -- but because there are some terrifically well-written don't-miss YA books that are really meaty for chewing for your middle school and high school Literature! [Just my unsolicited Public Service Announcement for the day, lol ] :tongue_smilie: I should have clarified - not the entire YA genre, but specifically the ones that our local library classifies as YA. It seems that nearly all the good ones are either pushed to the J side (up to and including "8th grade books", per the librarian) or all the way to the adult side in order to keep "YA" hip and trendy. Sigh. I should be more charitable to our truly-wonderful library and open-minded to YA books. Lori, I love your unsolicited Public Service Announcements - I don't suppose you have a list of these wonderful YA's, by chance? :) Perhaps I should start a new thread, though . . . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquility7 Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Lori, I love your unsolicited Public Service Announcements - I don't suppose you have a list of these wonderful YA's, by chance? :) Perhaps I should start a new thread, though . . . Yes! List, please? Or is there a new thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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