2007-12-19 00:27:10 · 6 answers · asked by lane 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
on a superficial level, i think most 11 year olds could read slaughterhouse five and enjoy it, especially the more fantastical parts, however, i don't think most would really appreciate all of the underlying statements that vonnegut makes. as a gift, it would be one that 'kept giving' as he could read it now and then in a couple of years and appreciate it in a totally different way. (i read 'she's come undone' by wally lamb when i was 12 and was okay with it, but reading it again in high school was a totally different experience).
2007-12-19 04:55:20 · answer #1 · answered by Lauren F 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He'd need to be exceptional. But some are.
I read books well beyond "my age" but here I sit surrounded by a thousand or more, so I'm not exactly "normal".
Simply because it is more conventionally narrative, I might suggest "All Quiet on the Western Front", but it's a big book.
Stephen Ambrose writes very readably, with clear depictions of the heroism and the terror and the waste of war: "Pegasus Bridge" perhaps, as the history a single incident, is an easier start than "Band of Brothers".
He does tend to focus more on the combat forces rather than the impact on civilians.
I'd also recommend "Forgotten Voices" by Max Arthur, which is a selection and compilation of letters and accounts from WW1 soldiers in their own words, most of them only a few paragraphs, but very telling.
And then there's Catch-22, but I suspect that should wait a few years to be truly appreciated.
2007-12-19 09:27:31 · answer #2 · answered by Pedestal 42 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the kid. I could tackle that book at 10 or 11, no problem. And I understood most of the subtleties. Other kids may be different. If he's very introspective and thoughtful, he'll probably get it. It's kind of a rough book, though, so it may not be right for him if he's TOO sensitive.
2007-12-19 10:13:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In general, yes. It's a dense, subtle book - while he might pick up on the plot, a lot of the nuances will be lost.
2007-12-19 08:39:51 · answer #4 · answered by truefirstedition 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, i don't that movie is appropriate for an 11 year old. wait until he is at LEAST 15 of 16.
2007-12-19 09:14:21 · answer #5 · answered by tiedyelime81 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes
2007-12-19 08:34:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋