Harry Potter

Dana asked about Harry Potter a couple of days ago (I told you I was behind on my reading!) and I just felt like I had to respond, since I blogged about the teen going to the movie. (Which he told me was "OK" but no surprises if you've read the book already. Um, yeah, and you expected what? A major plot change or something? He cracks me up.)

Personally, I just don't have a problem with Harry. I've read the books, and I think they're fun. (I wouldn't call them great literature, but then there are a lot of things I read that aren't great literature!) I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with reading stories about magic. It depends on the child, I think. If you think your child would have a problem keeping it clear in their mind that this is only make-believe, then by all means keep it away from them. Otherwise, I think Harry Potter is fine.

I do understand the feeling that anything to do with magic is dangerous and wrong. I respect that opinion/decision and I fully support those parents that make that decision for their families. I just don't see it that way. And I wish I could explain better exactly how I do see it. It's one of those things that simply isn't easy for me to put into words.

I guess, to me, these books are just so obviously fantasy that they're no more dangerous than when my brother and I played make believe when we were little and pretended we were drowning, or flying like Superman, or shooting each other. I might have pretended to fly, but I was very clear that actually jumping off a high spot would be a very bad idea.

Now, having said that, there are books that I consider to be dangerous and bad and don't want my children reading. The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman for instance. The teen's mom bought him those last year and he brought them to our place for the summer. Being an insatiable reader who loves fantasy, naturally I picked them up and read them.

At first I enjoyed them. The first book impressed me with how well it was written and with his insight into things like having a mentally ill parent. The second book had me raising my eyebrows, and the third book I really hated. I have a passionate dislike of that sort of story. Yes, I can see making good, evil and evil, good as a literary device, but no. Not for me and not in my home. Everyone has their boundaries and those books crossed mine. He took things I consider sacred and turned them on their head. He has the right to do that and I'll defend that right - but I won't ever read those books again and I won't let my children read them. (Once the kids are 18 they can make their own decisions on it.)

I didn't take the books away from the teen (one of those, "Hmm, I'm a stepmother with no real authority" moments,) but I did make a point of talking with him and making sure that he understood what was going on. I didn't want him to be unwittingly influenced. If he understood what was going on then he'd be able to spot the misleading bits, I felt. After all, he was still fairly young then, and didn't really understand a good part of what he was reading. Right now I wouldn't be so worried (although I still would discuss it with him.) He's grown greatly in his sophistication and ability to analyze what he hears and reads.

I don't know if he ever finished the books. I kind of hope not, actually.