Refreshing Innocence of HP Preteens - Literature and Children...

[A.E.B.Bevan at open.ac.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 24689

"Mindy, a.k.a. CLH" <mindyatime at j...> wrote:
> > One of the lovingly refreshing things about the HP books is that 
> it is devoid of any lurid details and has absolutely zero sexual  > 
innuendo or encounters. It makes it appropriate for children to read 
as well. 

Some comments on part of this (perhaps?) in an interview with Philip 
Pullman which can be read on

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,540483,00.html

Pullman admires JK Rowling: "She's enormously inventive, and doing a 
tremendous thing: bringing notice to children's literature." 

In the US Pullman's His Dark Materials triology is marketed for adults
In Britain:
>>>the trilogy is directed at ages 12 and above. This makes more 
sense: one of Pullman's main objectives in The Amber Spyglass is to 
celebrate the approach of adolescence. He despises the "ghastly 
sentimentality" he finds in most children's literature; the children 
Pullman depicts are fierce, brave and intelligent, liars, fighters 
and even - unwillingly - killers. What separates them from adults is 
self-awareness, nothing more. 

"Traditionally, children are seen as beautiful, innocent beings; then 
comes adulthood and they become corrupt. That's the CS Lewis view," 
he argues. "My view is that the coming of experience and sexuality 
and self-consciousness is a thing to be welcomed, because it's the 
beginning of true understanding, of wisdom. My book tells children 
that you're going to grow up and it's going to be painful but it's 
going to be good too." 
<<<

Actually I suspect JKR thinks something similar about growing up.

Edis