As we enter the second month of the year, I’m offering up second books: sequels and second in series installments! Sometimes I’m able to review several books in a series right away, but more frequently, I do the first book and then at some point in the future, I’ll add another.
So why bother? If you’ve read one, you’ve read them all, right? Well, not exactly. Sometimes a series is remarkably consistent in regards to content, but other times, as a series progresses, so does the content become more appropriate for older or more mature readers.
Sometimes a series gives you a false sense of security as a parent or teacher, because you’ve screened the first book and it seemed in line with what you felt was appropriate for you child and because of that, you felt comfortable that your child could continue with the series, when really, that might not be the best option.
By way of example, read the review for Bewitching Season. It had very tween appropriate romance and seemed like a good choice for girls who want to read about love with none of the racy bits. It’s sequel, Betraying Season goes well beyond kisses, with much discussion of virginity and some on-screen hot and heavy action, with skirts being raised and thighs and breasts being fondled. For readers of a certain age, this difference won’t matter one bit. But for others, the sequel is certainly not what is expected.
So what can you do if a series is inconsistent in its content?
- Wait – you can ask your young reader to hold off on the whole series until the content of all of the books is a match for their maturity.
- Ration the reading – In cases of major series books like Harry Potter, you could try having them read one a year, going slowly over time. This can be really hard to do if the series is currently very popular with your child’s peers, but remember you are the adult, and your guidance and limit setting is important and appropriate for children.
- Take it one book at a time – Let your student or child read the books in the series that are appropriate and then stop before you hit the point where they are not.
No matter what you chose, it’s important that you be there to discuss the content with your child if they feel the need.
So this month, I’ll be taking on the sequels to several books I’ve reviewed previously. I expect some of them will continue as they began – when I review the second book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series, I’m confident it will be quite similar to the first. But others I already know will be quite different from their predecessor, like the sequel to Goose Girl which is much darker in tone and mature in content.
So let’s give some series books a second look…
