If I am remembering right, the first three books would be ok for an 8 year old... I think they start turning a little darker in the fourth book. My youngest is an old 11 (with three older brothers!) and he is ok with the whole series, though I could see some 11 year olds that might not be.
(((((Ali)))))
Things are a bit exciting! I probably am on the PC less, but I still try to look for newcomers that catch my attention. Maybe not as many as I once did, but some. I have found that I still read about a lot of my friends, but post a lot less.
