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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that ds (9), should not be getting books like this from the library

39 replies

mumatron · 04/03/2010 20:25

so, ds and the rest of his class go to the local library every two weeks.

as he is dyslexic the teacher generally helps him pick somthing appropriate to read.

they take the books back to school and they keep them there until next time they go.

ds has just told me that this week he was allowed to pick his own book.

he has picked this

now i know andy mcnab does teenage boys books but this isnt one. ds is 9 and has a reading age of 6!!!

phoned ds's dad to tell him and he thinks im over-reacting.

what do you think?

OP posts:
atworknotworking · 04/03/2010 20:30

How did an adult book get into the childrens section? or do the class have free reign of choice throughout the whole library.

Regardless of your DS's reading age / ability YANBU I'm shocked that teacher allowed this choice.

Original poster
mumatron · 04/03/2010 20:40

thats exactly what i asked. ds says he was just allowed to go and get what he wanted.

library is very small. but am still shocked.

he has two teachers that job share and the one who took them always seems a bit stressed. she probably wasnt paying attention.

suely the library assistant should of noticed though?

OP posts:
laweaselmys · 04/03/2010 20:46

I think he just slipped under the radar so you can't be too harsh on them!

I don't think the Library Assistant should've stopped him either (even if it was inappropriate for him) because I don't think children should be told that they can't read books that are 'too old' for them, and be put off reading.

YABU, I'm afraid. Especially since normally his choices are monitored.

serinBrightside · 04/03/2010 20:47

Sorry PMSL here,

You have to admit that it must look more interesting to a nine year old boy than your average bland kids book.

Bless 'im

What were the teachers thinking though?

iheartdusty · 04/03/2010 20:49

It doesn't look at all appropriate. Very dark, violent and gloomy.

How do you know this is the one - from the OP I got the impression the book is now at school?

Otherwise I would suggest going back to the library with him and helping him pick something else.

Tricky, though, he presumably felt quite chuffed with himself for making his own choice.

OrmRenewed · 04/03/2010 20:50

Agree with laweasel. I think it's a generally bad idea to put reading material out of bounds. I suspect he will get bored when he finds out how hard it is. I read Lady Chatterleys Lover when I was about 8 - didn't understand all the dodgy bits and was confused TBH.

serinBrightside · 04/03/2010 20:50

Still LOL here!!

You could always read it for him

StevieDunton · 04/03/2010 20:51

i would be cross tbh.

i am a HUGE reader and encourage my children to be also, BUT, for example, dd1 (7, reading age of about 6) always tries to get out books that are way too difficult/advanced for her and i say no and direct her towards things that are more within her range (i don't mind her being stretched, but not stuff she hasn't a hope of understanding, never mind being appropriate!).

so i will say actually, YANBU.

piratecat · 04/03/2010 20:53

sorry but I had to , he prob thought the cover was inteesting. I doubt vey much he'll get thru thatone.

My guess is it slipped thru the radar somehow when they got the class to check out the books. Librarian must have been going some, to bleep that lot!

Original poster
mumatron · 04/03/2010 20:57

when he told me about it, he said it was about a machine gun so i had a look online now he normally gets books like guiness book of records, or that style of book.

he has an obsession with guns and tanks, anything army related so i can see why he picked the book. but i just think the rest of the content is possibly too adult for him.

as i said, the author write similar books for teenage boys so its not like he was being forced to read janet and john!!

i wont go mad at the school, but i think i should point it out to the teacher.

imagine if dd had come home with a danielle steel or something??

suppose i am being u abit unreasonable then.

OP posts:
WidowWadman · 04/03/2010 20:57

YABU I think. If it's not for him, he'll lose interest. If he's interested in this book despite having a low reading age, that's surely a good sign? How can he progress other than by picking up more challenging stuff and trying it out?

Telling him to stick to his reading age is only going to hold him back.

smallorange · 04/03/2010 21:00

When I was about 10, I used to go to our old, dusty library every Saturday and sit in a corner reading all sorts of inappropriate books. I read Stephen king, fay weldon, James Herbert, and all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff- medical textbooks, advanced dressage. I do remember reading a few chapters of dome erotic fiction too, involving women performing as 'ponies' (!) although I put that one back as was a bit too much.

Don't worry too much - I think he is at an age where he should be allowed to explore - but obs your call

Original poster
mumatron · 04/03/2010 21:01

tbh i didnt even consider the fact he probably wont be able to read most of it!

slight overreaction then??

OP posts:
Original poster
mumatron · 04/03/2010 21:04

smallorange

i have loads of crap trashy books he can have a go at if the arent going to scar him for life then.

i think its just the fact that he is my pfb and i dont want him to grow up.

ever!!

OP posts:
smallorange · 04/03/2010 21:05

Was told to put Iris Murdoch back though. Managed some of doris Lessing, sylvia Plath and margaret Atwood though.

I don't yhink you should restrict choice of books

Pozzled · 04/03/2010 21:06

Mention it to the teacher, but try not to be too harsh- class trips to the library can be difficult at the best of times, trying to keep 30 kids reasonably quiet and making sure they all change books in the given time.

I am rather puzzled as to how he could have picked it though, I could expect them to stay in the children's section unless the library is very small.

In our local library, you can't take out adult books with a child ticket anyway.

smallorange · 04/03/2010 21:08

Andy macnab is shit though. Have you tried stuff like star wars, dr who etc? They have exciting covers, he might enjoy them.

Original poster
mumatron · 04/03/2010 21:08

if he picked up one of my books i dont think i would even of noticed but the fact that the school and library have allowed him to take it out is a bit much.

im sure if i sent him to school with the book they would have something to say about it!

OP posts:
Original poster
mumatron · 04/03/2010 21:09

yea he has alot of dr who. and harry potter etc.

never been a mcnab fan myself either

OP posts:
smallorange · 04/03/2010 21:10

He might have just put it in his bag. I'd give it back to teacher and have a chuckle about it TBH.

TottWriter · 04/03/2010 21:14

To be honest, I'm more surprised that the librarian passed it. I thought children's library cards couldn't be used for adult fiction. That's how it is here, anyway.

I think, to be honest, the book will put him off itself, and be a good lesson to him to keep to books which are aimed at him. And if not, well, try and be impressed at the obvious improvement in his reading rather than anything else. If he's a bit of a knowledge junkie with regard to combat related items (my brother was and is the same) then he'll only be paying attention to the descriptions of guns etc, and the rest of the content will go over his head.

I don't think you are being especially unreasonable as such, but I wouldn't say it is something which will do him any harm, especially if they are reading the books at school only.

Oscy · 04/03/2010 21:15

oh gawd, he prob shouldn't have it, but it brings back memories.....I read lots of Jilly Cooper when I was about 10 years old, and when I was 12 I very accidentally was given Julie Burchill's "Ambition". Oh how I laugh looking back....

Original poster
mumatron · 04/03/2010 21:15

its already in school an seeing the funny side now tbh.

thanks all for helpoing pull me head out my own arse.

OP posts:
pigletmania · 04/03/2010 21:16

YANBU my friends boyfriend reads Andy Macnab not for children, this one got under teh radar, just point it out to the teacher.

herbietea · 04/03/2010 21:17

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