No, The Summer I Turned Pretty is not appropriate for 12 year olds. The age rating is 16+ as decided by Amazon Prime based on the mature content.
The rom-com YA fiction is more mature than the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before YA movie franchise.
Based on the trilogy books by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a love triangle between one girl and two brothers. It is a story about first love, heartbreak, and the charm of that one pretty summer.
Amazon Prime Original show features Lola Tung, Gavin Casalegno, and Christopher Briney as the lead character.
Though the story may sound appealing to teens, especially those who have read the books, however, this series is rated 16+ meaning a parents’ guide is needed.
There is mature language, and the content of the series is not suitable for a 10-year-old to watch alone.
The series first premiered in 2022 and has two seasons to date.
Is The Summer I Turned Pretty Appropriate for 12-Year-Olds?
No, The Summer I Turned Pretty is not appropriate for 12 years olds. Since it is rated 16+, a parental guide is required.
The show is rated so because of its strong language, substance abuse, and mature content.
Parents must be aware that underage drinking, physical intimacy, violence, smoking, substance use, and other activities might not be suitable for 12 years old.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 age rating is 16+. The rating is given by the Motion Pictures Association of America.
Having said that, it might also be liked by many teens because of the attractive cast and the fantasy of a summer at a beach with appealing, rich people.
Apart from the series, the books aren’t kids friendly either and the series are somewhat different from Han’s original stories.
The series shines during the emotional and more profound moments. The teens are not afraid to be involved in difficult issues, and the parents show some compassion when they make mistakes.
Overall, it is a love triangle between a girl and two brothers who drag adults into their mess.
The actors are also fine to show seem like high schoolers and not some adults meant to play high schoolers.
They are relatable and fun, and the teens will love it but it may not be a bad decision to be assisted by a parent or discuss the consequences of actions.
Content
The show is rated TV-MA, meaning the contents are specially developed for adults, and therefore it may be inappropriate for children under 17.
The ratings are given in response to public concerns about massively physical content, violence, and strong abuses.
The Summer I Turned Pretty has lots of mature content. There are underage characters drinking alcohol and smoking pot.
Two teens are shown to indulge in intimate actions with a female leading the act and getting undressed by each other.
The series is filled with kissing scenes between males and females and some between two males.
There is a car scene where two adults indulge in mature behavior with intimate sounds.
Topics such as cancer and tragedy, adultery, divorce, and gambling are labeled.
Language
The show uses many foul languages, which makes it inappropriate for a 12-year-old.
Is The Summer I Turned Pretty PG 13?
Yes, The Summer I Turned Pretty is PG 13. The show is a coming-of-age show with adult content.
PG 13 represents parents strongly cautioned, some materials may be inappropriate for children under 13.
It is a stronger rating for parents that some contents included in the show or movie may not be suitable for children under 13. 13 is a pre-teen age.
This may involve some strong language, large violence, or mature scenes, and drugs use.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is not appropriate for 13 years old as it has scenes with lots of explicit language and mature references.
Additionally, there is a lot of flirting, kissing, and dating between the cast.
Needless to say, it is a beautiful story about growing up and teen behavior with lovely soundtracks and an attractive cast.
Both parents and teens will enjoy it. However, as per parents’ review on Common Sense Media, it is best if your kid is at least 13 or above that to watch it on their own.
There are some parents who think that the content is not that inappropriate for 13 years old and let their kids watch the show alongside them.
They believe since the entertainment contents are swiftly changing, it is ok for teens to see and learn.
Is The Summer I Turned Pretty Appropriate for 14 Year Olds?
No, The Summer I Turned Pretty is not appropriate for 14-year-olds. Amazon Prime rates it as 16+.
The show is a nice creation by Jenny Han but there is quite a bit of drinking, drug use, and intimacy in the show.
As children grow parents can talk about all this stuff and about its consequences. But a child of 14 years old or below is in his early teenage stage when lots of hormonal changes happen.
Even if the parents try their best to make them understand, teenage is an age where the kid does his own and it is a crucial age to either progress or fall down.
The series is about a romantic teen drama but most of its seen are not teen friendly.
The story is amazing but most of the parent’s reviews indicated a lack of parental supervision for their teenage children’s activities.
Most of the scenes are a choice of what a parent wants to uncover to their kids.
If you allow your kid to watch the show, it is advised that you clear some of the things before or after watching, and what is supposed from them in those areas.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Book vs Series Age Rating
The Summer I Turned Pretty book age rating is 12+. Whereas it is 16+ for the series.
The difference in the rating may be due to the fact that a series explicitly shows all the stuff which a book doesn’t.
Books are a great way to learn about things and when we read any romantic genre novels we can just imagine and nothing else.
TV shows, on the other hand, spice things up and make it look more dramatic and appealing.
TV shows have the power to influence by their features more than a book, and for a teen, the show might not be right at that age. That is why the former is rated accordingly.
The Summer I Turned Pretty book is appropriate for 12 years old. But the series is only fine for viewers above 16 years.
The book also includes mature content, violence, strong language, and consumption of alcohol similar but it is appropriate for teens from 13 years of age, unlike the series.
The book has received positive reviews from early and young teens, especially teen girls in Common Sense Media. They love the character Belly, and her adventure in exploring herself and her true love.
Jenny Han, the author of The Summer I Turned Pretty is also the author of Shug and Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream.