about swear words in my son's reading book?

[MM74]

My son is 7. His reading book from school contains the word 'bastard'. Am I being uptight, PFB and unreasonable if I complain?

May I just say that I am a bit disappointed. When I saw the thread title I thought it referred to the reading record book that we all have to not down our comments in. Was hoping to see something along the lines of 'Fucking awesome expression in your reading today MM74's DS! Bloody keep it up. signed Miss Teacher'.

I know what you mean seeker but he says he finds them boring. I managed to get him engrossed in Famous Five, but haven't succeeded with much else.

Might be worth speaking to the local librarian for recommendations of books. At 8 I got into an adult series of books that were actually pretty twee, but perfect for me at that age.

I made the mistake of saying to ds, as we were discussing horrible histories, that people didn't call William the Conqueror by that title when he was alive. I should have shut up at that point but somehow found myself admitting that his nickname during his life was William the Bastard. ds was highly entertained and has given me a solemn promise he will NOT mention this at school.

Sounds as if this particular book is not suitable for rather bigger reasons than a swearword, though.

YABU. It's a word....also an opportunity to explain to him the origin of the word and have a little history lesson.

I was reading Stephen King at age 10....your DS will be 10 in three years. One bastard won't harm him.

We did speak to the librarian last summer. She recommended Beast Quest which he tried but didn't like and I tried him on some other fantasy books as he had loved The Hobbit, but no luck. I'm rationing his Morpurgo box set and he is currently reading the third Percy Jackson book

Is it worth asking for recommendations on a fantasy forum?

Good idea, I'll try that.

He's a bit strange when it comes to books (don't know if that is anything to do with his Aspergers). I'm currently reading The Faraway Tree to his younger sister and he loves to listen to it. However if you suggest him reading anything like that he refuses.

Just to add to this, Michael Morpurgo himself told my DD2 when she was 8 or 9 not to read Private Peaceful yet as she was too young for it. She had just finished reading War Horse at the time, and asked him if she should read PP next, and he was adamant that she should wait. It is a fantastic book for 11-13-year-olds though and she has since read it and enjoyed it very much. But wildly unsuitable for a seven-year-old. Glad the school has seen the error of their ways.
WillowFae - I love Kaspar too! You might try your DS on the Cressida Cowell dragon books. Or what about Lemony Snicket?

My DD is also 7 and an advanced reader. Am finding this thread v. interesting as have just ordered 'The Butterfly Lion' for her so will have a nosey before giving it to her.

Have also had her head teacher warn me off letting her read any Harry Potter yet on the grounds that at her age a lot of children lack the emotional maturity to deal with some of the issues addressed (although she's seen the first couple of films).

She loves Roald Dahl and the Narnia books and am hoping to read The Hobbit with her before the film comes out. She has just started The Midnight Library series which I think is largely out of print but you can pick them up second hand on Amazon for pennies, or in the library.

At the moment she's reading Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder to me at bed-time (which is highly unfortunate as it bores me rigid ).

He's already read the Butterfly Lion and another MM one whose name escapes me (about a greyhound that's rescued from the canal and goes through a series of owners). As I mentioned somewhere above, I wasn't entirely happy with those either (on the basis of more adult themes), but let them pass on the basis that I assumed they had been vetted by the teachers and didn't feel they would do any harm.

It turns out he picked the hedghog book out for himself! So no passive aggression there. I suspect after three Morpugos in a row he fancied something lighter.

Interesting that Morpugo himself recommended not to read the book until older. I'll try to discuss at parents' evening what the process is for selecting books and whether choices should be more guided.

Thanks all for your help and recommendations.

At the school library where I work, Private Peaceful is only available to Year 6 upwards.

Varjac Paw, Hiccup the Viking, Skullduggery Pleasant, Armtemis Fowl ( skip the last one as it's pants ) Percy Jackson, Any of the Terry Prattchets ... All good series for a competant reader that have plenty of plot but no overly adult themes

I don't think it's ok, for the content or the "bastard". Particularly because the word has an out of date meaning that kids could question if they come from a one parent family or unmarried parents. Alright, it's not the end of the world but I don't blame you for being annoyed and I don't think you are being PFB at all.

But apart from the OP, this is a bit of a stealth boast thread.

Skullduggery Pleasant are aimed at readers over 9 because of swearing and AIDS is mentioned in one of them - I don't mind as it gave me an opportunity to explain what it is. Word of warning though, ds read one of the books and scared himself silly - could only read it in the day He is 10

Woops! I read it aloud and didn't register the swearing at all! We are an insensative bunch of low-lifes, though ...

My DS studied Private Peaceful in Y7. I borrowed it to read and cried myself. (age 45)

theodorakis Why is it a stealth boast thread exactly? Personally I don't give a monkey's if mine are reading War and Peace or The Beano as long as they're enjoying it ... Seeing as we're all incognito there's not much point in one-upping each other anyway!

theodorakis - not a stealth boast from me. Actually has been incredibly useful! How else am I supposed to ask for advice on books for DS? If I go to a librarian at the local library and ask the same question am I boasting? No. I just love reading and do not want DS to decide it is boring and encourage him to develop a real love of reading himself.

Thanks everyone for the advice in these last few posts. Have made a note of the titles suggested :)

Fecklessdizzy he is currently on his second read through of the Percy Jackson books which he does love :) I found out today that Rick Riordan has a new series out based on Egyptian mythology so we might give that a go as DS is studying Egypt at school at the moment :)

Very tricky - reading ability vs. suitability. My DS was reading all the Alex Rider books when he was 9 and I was reading with him one night and came across a reference to a pornography racket, which went right over his head. But I went in and spoke to the school librarian about it and whether the whole subject was really suitable. She said it was only a passing reference but that she didn't like the level of violence in them. At the time I thought I must try to be a bit more active about screening the books he picked, but TBH he gets through them so quickly (2 or 3 days) I often don't get a chance..