Harry getting Killed; Books as "Childrens' Books"

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 15512

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., inyron at y... wrote:
> > meckelburg at f... wrote:
> > 
> > > Another reason is, that, even if we enjoy the canon so much as
> > > adults, the books are "children's books". JKR wants to show 
> children
> > > the fight between good and evil and good has to win. To 
sacrifice
> > > Harry on this battle would be very disturbing to the 9 to 
13year 
> old
> > > kids, who are the avarage-aged Readers.
> > 
> > The books are *not* "children's books"!  JKR has said repeatedly 
> that
> > she had no target audience; the publishers *marketed* them to 9-
12 
> yr
> > olds because Harry was 11 in Book 1.  Harry will be 17/18 in the 
> last
> > book.  Is that really a "childrens' book" if your main characters 
> are
> > all adults?  Is GoF really a childrens' book appropriate for all 
9 
> year
> > olds?
> > 
> > Heidi posted a demographic study result a few weeks ago that 
> indicates
> > that a majority of the HP books sold in 2000 were sold to people 
> over
> > the age of 14.
> > 
> > I posted two very detailed messages in this regard this past 
> weekend --
> > See Message #15132 and Message #15201.
> > 
> > Penny
> > 
> 
> 
> I agree that the books are not children's books, and JKR said she 
> wrote them for herself- BUT.
> 
> From a Barnes&Noble.com chat, OCTOBER 20, 2000
>  
> 
> Question: Are you going to get more mature themes as your books 
age, 
> or are you going to keep it geared toward younger kids?
> 
> JKR: I think an eight- or nine-year-old will be able to read all 
> seven books. That's my intention. However, Harry is growing up, so 
> obviously he will face certain issues an eight-year-old won't. I 
> don't think, however, that that will be uninteresting for an eight-
> year-old. 
> 
> 
> Was GoF a children's book? No.  Was it appropriate for all nine 
year 
> olds?  THat's debateable, but JKR though it was.  JKR was also a 
> little worried on how the children would handle Cedric's death.  I 
> think Mecki's point that sacrificing Harry would be too much for 
nine 
> year olds doesn't bear dismissal on these grounds.
> 
> inyron
> 
> who likes chat transcripts, and is still looking for the one where 
> JKR said Mrs. and Arabella Figg are the same person, if someone 
> doesn't mind helping her.

Two things -  I am pretty sure that its the Blue Peter transcript (in 
the files) where JKR confirms about Mrs Figg.

The point about whether the books are geared towards children seems 
to me to be almost irrelevant.  The fact is that children love them, 
and that JKR has almost singlehandedly revived an interest in the 
written word, in an age of computer games and television, amongst the 
youth of today.  There would therefore be an outcry if the books were 
suddenly deemed unsuitable for the pre teen age group.  I also think 
that JKR is aware of the effect her books have on children.  She 
isn't afraid of addressing the issues she feels are relevant - 
isntead she is gently leading her readers into an increase in darker 
material, and paving the way by helping the reader (at least children)
have a greater understanding of some of the issues and themes with 
which she is continuing (death, racism, prejudice, abuse).
All areas which I feel it is important for children to understand.

Catherine
Who still thinks that one of the most shocking sentences so far 
is "Kill the spare."