My library issues the following classifications for the Harry Potter series: Philosopher's Stone: U-MG (Upper-Middle Grade) for moderate violence and menace and mild thematic material-all involving children Chamber of Secrets: U-MG for moderate violence and menace and moderate thematic material-all involving children Prisoner of Azkaban: N-YA (New-Young Adult) for moderate violence and menace, moderate thematic material, and some mild language-all involving teens Goblet of Fire: YA (Young Adult) for rough action violence including strong, bloody imagery, some mild language, questionable behavior, alcohol abuse, crude humor, and strong thematic material-all involving teens Order of the Phoenix: YA for rough action featuring strong, bloody violence and some gory imagery, consumption of alcohol, questionable behavior, crude humor, teen partying, and strong thematic content Half-Blood Prince: YA for strong, bloody violence, mild language, alcohol abuse and parallels to substance abuse, questionable behavior, some language, some sensual scenes, and some sexual thematic material, teen partying, and strong thematic content Deathly Hallows: E-YA (Edgy-Young Adult) for strong, bloody, and gory violence, disturbing imagery, some moderate sensuality and sexual thematic material, some moderate language, questionable behavior, alcohol abuse, and heavy, disturbing thematic material The movies are rated as follows (if the film in question struggled to maintain a certain rating in the face of the MPAA or other worldwide film classification bodies, the rating will include both, Ex. rated PG/PG-13) Philosopher's stone: Rated PG, recommended age 9+ Chamber of Secrets: Rated PG, recommended age 9+ Prisoner of Azkaban: Rated PG/PG-13 recommended age 10+ Goblet of Fire: Rated PG-13 recommended age 12+ Order of the Phoenix: Rated PG-13 recommended age 11+ Half-Blood Prince: Rated PG-13 recommended age 12+ Deathly Hallows Part 1: Rated PG-13/R recommended age 14+ Deathly Hallows Part 2: Rated PG-13 recommended age 13+ Overall Series classification: YA (Young Adult) for 7 counts of violence (moderate or above)-100% of the series 2 counts of sexuality-28% 4 counts of profanity-57% 4 counts of substance abuse-57% 6 counts of thematic material-85% Harry Potter therefore has an appropriateness score of 34/50, representing the equivalent of an R rated classification, but it's acceptable scores range anywhere from 14/50 to 36/50, representing a book rating range of anywhere from Upper-Middle Grade to New-Adult, and therefore, the equivalent possible film ratings of PG, PG-13, and R. This is used to gauge potential unsuitably. So Harry Potter could, at it's youngest extreme, be considered appropriate for more of a PG-rated crowd, while at its highest extreme could also, to a reasonable extent, be considered appropriate only for an R-rated, more adult crowd. Though it is, on average, a YA series and equates to more of a PG-13 rating. Just for a benchmark comparison, here's The Hunger Games series: The Hunger Games: YA for strong, bloody violence, alcohol abuse, and strong thematic material-all involving teens Catching Fire: YA for strong, bloody violence, alcohol and mentions of substance abuse, and strong thematic material Mockingjay: E-YA for strong, bloody, and gory violence, some disturbing imagery, a moment of sexual thematic material, some alcohol abuse and mentions of substance abuse, and extremely heavy, disturbing thematic material The films: The Hunger Games: Rated PG-13/R recommended age 13+ Catching Fire: Rated PG-13 recommended age 11+ Mockingjay Part 1: Rated PG-13 recommended age 12+ Overall rating: YA for 3 counts of violence-100% 0 counts of sexuality-0% 0 counts of language-0% 2 counts of substance abuse-66% 3 counts of thematic material-100% Overall/potential inappropriateness rating: 26/50 This series has a potential unsuitability rating of anywhere from 24/50 to 26/50, meaning suitable ratings of either YA or E-YA, and a suitable equivalent film rating of PG-13 What you realize when comparing these two YA series, is that Harry Potter has the same amount of violence as The Hunger Games, more sexual material than The Hunger Games, and more profane material than The Hunger Games, but slightly less questionable material pertaining to substance abuse and thematic content compared to The Hunger Games. It's Harry Potter's wide range of potential ratings, from a more U-MG, PG category, suitable for older children and Tweens, to a restrictive New-Adult, R-rated category, a category meant solely for older teens and adults, that confuses people as to its suitably. It can reasonably be considered fairly suitable material for kids as young as 9, but it could also, to a reasonable extent, due to its large amount of aggregated questionable content and thematic material, be considered appropriate or understandable only for older teens and adults. It's average, again, however, lies firmly in YA, PG-13 territory. I think it's a story for Tweens and teens. A mature child as young as 9 should be able to start the series, but beyond that, it really is meant for kids 12+. Plus, kids below a certain age tend to not grasp plotting and characters too well. They focus on the more insignificant, imaginitive details, and Harry Potter is much more than that.
Source: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/harry-potter-age-by-age-guide
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