[Accygirl]

Rowlings was fine with writing some pretty intense violence in her children’s books... I don’t see why the death of the main character is all that awful that an eleven/ twelve year old couldn’t stomach it...

[Corin Stormhands]

I don’t see why the death of the main character is all that awful that an eleven/ twelve year old couldn’t stomach it...

It has nothing to do with the intensity of the books. But with a perceived "relationship" many young readers have with Harry.

Devastating adults, or college age students who started reading HP in grade school (my son among them) is one thing.

Devastating a 7-year-old is entirely a different matter.

It's just my theory. Your mileage may vary.