Electronic Reader for a Teen

Kindles come with parental controls that not only prohibit access to the internet, but also can be set to limit time on the device for reading or, if you have a kindle fire, for games or other media. Look up "free time on kindle" for more information. Also, if you're only getting a reader and not a multiuse tablet, the kindle is very affordable.

Eta - a lot of the kindle settings and downloads can be controlled from amazon site without accessing the kindle itself.

My basic Kindle just buys and reads books. Well, if I want, I can access other sites on the internet, but it is not made for that so it is black & white, slow, and the formatting is all wrong, it doesn't like graphics. A kid would have to be pretty desperate to bother. You can also password protect your wifi.

Here is the link to the current basic model, available for preorder for Oct. 2: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I15SB16

The link B gave used to be a good resource, but is outdated by years and won't be useful for the selections available today.

There are many ereaders that are just ereaders and nothing more.

Here's the Amazon Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I15SB16/ref=nav_shopall_k_ki

and the Nook GlowLight from Barns and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-glowlight-ereader/37...

Barnes and Noble used to sell a more basic model (no GlowLight). Your local store might have them.

Neither of these devices does anything other than let you read and explore books. I would just go to a Best Buy and ask someone to show them to you and answer your questions. This will really help you decide what you really want to do.

My Kindle does access the internet but it has no browser so you can't go online and do anything but download books. Only the fire series has a browser. I like mine better because you can read it anywhere.

I would just get a kindle, and keep the password to yourself. You can turn the internet access on and off at your discretion.

Personally, I really like my first-generation nook. It is not backlit, so it reads just as if I were looking at a book. (No worries about eye damage.) I'm not sure how many other readers have this feature... But I would imagine that plenty do.

What you want is a Kindle eReader (NOT a Kindle Fire). I have a Kindle eReader and I can download books from Amazon or from the library. But there is no internet browser, so I cannot surf the web, access Facebook, or go to any internet site.

I have the Nook Glowlight which is only an eReader. It is small, light weight, easy to read in the sun (not like a computer screen), lights up at night, and is only for reading. Barnes & Noble has many books under $10 and also under $5 or even free (older books). Our library allows me to borrow books for free with special software that I downloaded to my laptop. I carry the Nook with me at all times and always have a book to read. The Kindle Paperwhite is the equivalent but has more features I did not want. Youtube has comparison videos so you can explore the differences.

I have the basic nook, which I love. It can access the Internet to download books easily. Trying to look at anything else, while possible, is extremely difficult, slow, and on a tiny bitty screen. I keep it deliberately so I don't interrupt relaxation reading time with obsessive email checks.

ETA- I agree with Marie C, I far prefer the unlit screen on my basic nook. Plus, you can set up the nook to only use one bn.com account, so you can see what your kiddo is reading, if you choose.

My daughter and I both have Kindle Paperwhites. Love them. In fact a friend a couple years ago suggested the Paperwhite because she bought her daughter the regular non-backlit one and regretted it.

Like everyone said, they are pretty much just for books. I can access the Internet (specifically Amazon) to get more books but that's about it. I think it can access Goodreads.com for book reviews too. Like the Nook you can also get library books.

Honestly I went with the Kindle vs Nook because I feel like Amazon may be around longer than B&N.

Double think this. Children are looking at so much technology (screens) today. Their eyes are suffering.

Pick one that has nothing but USB cable listed under Connectivity and you should be good.

http://ereaderguide.info/

In settings, you can disable Safari on an iPad.

kindle, nook. all of them. just turn off wifi. or change household wifi password, and when he needs it, type it for him without giving it away.

You can set parental controls on a kindle fire.