Pullman told the Daily Telegraph, “I don’t mind anybody having an opinion about my books. I don’t mind a bookseller deciding they are for this age group or that, or a teacher giving one of my books to a child because they think it is appropriate. But I don’t want to see the book itself declaring officially, as if with my approval, that it is for readers of 11 and upwards or whatever. I write books for whoever is interested. When I write a book I don’t have an age group in mind.”
Along with Rowling, such well-known children’s authors as Terry Pratchett, Alan Garner, Anthony Horowitz, Anne Fine, and Michael Rosen have also signed up. More than 80 authors, librarians, booksellers, illustrators, and teachers have joined to protest the age banding. The supporters argue that the printed age ranges would hurt literacy levels, as reluctant readers or those with dyslexia might be embarrassed to be seen with a book clearly labeled for younger readers.
“I am absolutely delighted that J.K. Rowling has added her support to the campaign,” said Fine. “But I’m not surprised because we all know that the reading age for her novels is extremely wide.”
The controversy began in April at a meeting between the Society of Authors and the Publishers’ Association when Random House publishers argued that marking books by age range would help parents purchase books for their children and standardize children’s book marketing.
Bloomsbury, Rowling’s publisher; Walker Books; and about eight other major publishers stand against the age banding, while Random House, Scholastic, and Egmont are in favor of it. The remainder of the children’s publishing industry, including Orion, Macmillan, and Puffin, are for the printed age guidelines unless authors oppose it.
Pullman says anyone unsure if a book is appropriate for a certain age should ask a bookseller: “There are lots of clues on the cover, but if they are unsure they can always ask a specialist. Booksellers know the books they have for sale; they know their readers, and they can talk to a parent or grandparent who comes in. If a grandparent says, ‘My granddaughter is a very advanced reader but rather timid and scared by monsters,’ then they can advise.”
