So, these books also helped my develop a really strong relationship with my little brother. It makes me want to finish my own book series even sooner so we can talk about them, too. We often talk about what happened as if we read them yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I like my privacy, but I love to see him read, especially something I loved to read myself. My brother, who's 15 this summer, absolutely loves them and I often find him on the floor in my room re-reading them. I'm still working on getting my 13-year-old sister to read them, but she has never been one to read much.

Despite the fact that they're aimed at children and teens, I think even a young-minded adult might enjoy them. I think if you don't read these books, you're really missing out. The main character, Darren, faces a conflict and feels bad for the outcome, but still remains family-oriented and never forgot where he came from and who his friends were.Īs an absolute advocate for these books, I want as many kids to read them as possible. The series has powerful role models, and characters that always stay true to themselves, and in a world as diverse and growing as we have today, this is important. Second, the books have a value to them that isn't just part of reading literature. The later in life we get without doing something, the less inclined we will be to start. I was always the reader out of my siblings getting my siblings to read was always a nightmare. First, if a child wants to read, we much encourage that and not tell them no. That's your personal choice, however other people need to have accurate information in order to make their own decisions.įor me, I would definitely let my child read these books, and I have multiple reasons why. Please don't unfairly rate books just because you personally don't want your kids reading them. There are multiple people on this website saying that these books have drinking, drugs, and smoking, but really they don't. While the books do contain gore and violence, it is no worse than your average horror movie, and there are no pictures of violence in the books. I'm now 18, and these books remain one of my all-time favorite series. I remember I used to beg my mom to take me to the bookstore to buy the next book every time I finished one. My English class read the first book and I loved it so much I went and read the other 11. The first time I read these books was when I was 12. It's a bit long but it's thorough and gives a fair representation of the book series.

Darren shan books