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Jennifer Kirkland (1 KP) created a post

Jan 25, 2018  
On age-appropriate reading and viewing..

There are two kinds in our household. I am not so concerned about Miss Abby; she's fifteen and has an innocent sort of sophistication that comes of understanding the theory of the realities of life, but not having experienced most of them for herself. So she can read dystopian novels and watch horror movies and so forth without much problem, though I like to be near her on first exposure to the scary or sexual or violent this she has not experienced before so she can ask questions.


Mix Liz is another story. She's ten, sensitive, scary-bright, and on the autism spectrum, so she has a bundle of insecurities. Also her father (Abby's stepfather) passed away about a year-and-a-half ago, so Lizzy is extra sensitive to stories where parents are dead or missing. You can, for instance, forget about Unfortunate Events, although Harry Potter seems to be fine as long as her momma is there to support her.


What she really seems to appreciate is middle school dramas; she's a huge fan of the Dork Diaries, for instance. They're aimed at ages nine to twelve, and although her reading level is higher than her age, her ability-to-cope level is at or below 10-and-in-fourth-grade. The GoddessGirls series is also a favorite; it's a slightly less scary (and more girl-power) kind of Percy Jackson. What I especially like about these books is that it's impossible for her to think of things like Hades as straight-up evil; in these stories he is the epitome of the Dark is Not Evil trope, the Goth kid from the wrong side of the River Styx. This gives her some perspective and nuanced understanding she doesn't get from watching, say, Disney's Hercules. (Whom she cannot call Hercules, as his name should be Heracles, and she knows it).


In any case, just wanted to share some interesting tidbits from a GamerMom with a sensitive kid. More later, peeps.
      
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Kelly (279 KP) rated 221B Baker Street: The Master Detective Game in Tabletop Games

Jan 2, 2019  
221B Baker Street: The Master Detective Game
221B Baker Street: The Master Detective Game
1975 | Deduction, Murder & Mystery, Book
10
8.0 (5 Ratings)
Tabletop Game Rating
Challenging clues (1 more)
Red Herrings
For those who find Cluedo too easy
We purchased this game for my 14 year old son for Christmas, as he is a huge fan of Cluedo. The game was recommended as the skills base that is needed is very similar, you go around the board searching for clues in order to solve a crime, whilst using logic to rule out possible suspects e.t.c.

Unlike Cluedo, however, the game relies upon written clues, some being simple statements, some riddles and some designed to throw the player completely off course. The game itself is significantly more challenging than Cluedo and requires a lot more thought into solving the case- I use the word case, as each murder requires different information to be found, for example the first case requires the murderer, weapon and motive, later cases require more information than this.

At the beginning of play, the case is read out, players have access to the case throughout play and can read it whenever they like - this is particularly useful, and I found myself reading over many times to familiarise with the clues and characters. As individuals or small teams, you go around the board to different places to collect clues (which are stored in the clue book that comes with the game). It is up to the player as to where they go first to seek out clues, although strategically it makes sense to visit a location connected to the case. Players are provided with a sheet to record thoughts and findings, before going back to 221b Baker Street to declare their theory. The creators of the game have deliberately placed red herrings into the clues, designed to mislead and throw us off course.

An element of logical thinking is required in order to solve the mystery, which I found particularly enjoyable. I found that this game certainly requires a good hour or more to complete, and was not a game that could be completed quickly, however did get us together as a family spending quality time together.
  
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Rache (174 KP) Jan 3, 2019

Hmm, my sense of curiosity is piqued. I think I'll have to invest in this game so I can share it with my logic obsessed parents.
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated The Lost World (Jurassic Park, #2) in Books

Dec 15, 2019  
The Lost World (Jurassic Park, #2)
The Lost World (Jurassic Park, #2)
Michael Crichton | 1995 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
3
7.6 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Scientific Theories Disguised as Fiction Make Desire to Read This Novel Extinct
This book picks up a few years after the original Jurassic Park disaster. It turns out that that the rumors of Ian Malcom’s death were greatly exaggerated, and he has recovered thanks to Sarah Harding. While none of the survivors of the Jurassic Park disaster have talked about what happened, there are rumors. And those rumors aren’t helped by the reappearance of weird creatures on the Costa Rica coast. In fact, wealthy scientist Richard Levine has come up with the theory that there is another island with dinosaurs on it, and he is obsessed with finding it. And it isn’t long before he, Ian, Sarah, and others are heading to the second island to study the dinosaurs, learn more about how they lived, and hopefully learn why they became extinct. Will the scientists be able to prove their theories? Or will some stowaways and other uninvited guests ruin their plans?

I listened to an abridgement of this book over 20 years ago, and I remember thinking this was a decent if unnecessary sequel. I decided it was time for a relisten and this time, a listen of the full book. Turns out, I enjoyed the abridgement better. There is too much time spent rediscovering that the dinosaurs are out there again and trying to locate them. Then, once we arrive, we get lectures, mostly from Malcom and Levine, about how dinosaurs lived and theories about why they became extinct. While there are some suspenseful scenes early on, it’s not until the final quarter that we get the scenes the movie has made famous. And those scenes? Nail bitters even if you know what is going to happen. The ending is much better than the movie’s ending as well, not that this is a high bar. Diehard fans will enjoy this one, but the casual fan has no reason to pick this book up.
  
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