I’d consider 11 probably too young for that book solely because of the page count! I read Tom Jones one summer when I was in college and although I’m a pretty fast reader I had to renew my library copy at least twice.
In a completely differently way I read Robert Swindell’s Brother in the Land when I was emotionally too young. I could understand the language, no problem, but the apocolyptic misery completely traumatised me. Lay awake worrying about nuclear warfare for a long time afterwards.
In 6th/7th grade I read the original Conan series…lots of violence, sex, and “alternate religious beliefs” This was especially shocking back in the 1950’s, and probably warped me for all time (or not). These were definitely forbidden books, and probably rightly so for a young boy.
Mom and dad both worked and I’m an only child. There was not much to do in the summer except read. I’d probably get more out of the book now. Back then, I was just reading a good story.
I read *Atlas Shrugged *for the first time at age 13, and loved it. Part of what appealed to me about it was the length (and the fact that it was recommended by two of my favorite Star Trek fiction authors).
I still remember the odd looks my English teacher gave me when I showed up with that for Friday afternoon reading hour.
I completely forgot Nancy Friday! I found a copy of one of her books about women’s sexual fantasies when I was maybe 13 or 14 and just about wore it out, ifyouknowwhatI’msayin’.
How about “*Other People Thought *You Were Too Young to Read It, But You Read It Anyway”?
National Lampoon. The year I was in Grade Six, I discovered it on the magazine rack at the local corner store, the March '72 issue, picturing Hitler in a tropical setting with an umbrella drink in his hand.
It caused a bit of a ruckus when I brought it to school to read when I had nothing else to do.
Yes, it got confiscated.
Mack Bolan “The Executioner” books when I was about 12.
So much sex and violence, ah yeah!