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Original poster

Too much of harry potter, percy jackson, Artemis fowl making DS aggresive

64 replies

mom17 · 12/08/2016 11:24

DS 10, is really crazy about above mentioned books along with other books which I aminly found it to be aggressive. I really need to try hard to make him read classicals( has read few but doesn't interest him much). He really becomes crazy till the time he finishes the books, nothing matters to him then ( exams, assessment, any other routine studies). If I say something in line that I will discontinue library membership or will not order those kind of books, he really gets so angry and starts screaming and talks badly like "lets see who will study then?". If I don't order those kind, he brings it from school library. I have read Harry potter/percy jackson little to understand what does he like there and I really feel it to be crappy/useless and feel that up to certain extent it is ok to read these to keep up with peer group but reading it again and again and ignoring other genre is not appropriate.
I feel it is general problem with boys, so would like to know how other parents have dealt with it or any suggestion ?

OP posts:
TormundGiantsbabe · 12/08/2016 11:33

I'm female and have always obsessively read and re-read the books I love. When I find a good book then I have to immerse myself, I literally can't put it down.

And I would be angry too if someone tried to force me to read something I'm not interested in or threatened to restrict my access to books! Shock

QueenZelda · 12/08/2016 11:33

Are you for real?

Reading (any book) is a wonderful thing and should be encouraged.

If your son is acting up then I rather suspect it's because of you rather than because of his favourite books.

pieceofpurplesky · 12/08/2016 11:37

Hmmmm. I'll bite. Just met him read what he wants - it is not the books making him aggressive it is you. For a ten year old boy the classics have no appeal or anything he can connect with.

FurkinA · 12/08/2016 11:37

Grinat Harry Potter making children aggressive. Has he put a spell on classmates?

Chinks123 · 12/08/2016 11:38

I think most people would be very proud of their 10 year old wanting to read long books like that and actually enjoying them! Why should he have to read classicals if fantasy or whatever is the genre he enjoys? I have personally re read the Harry Potter books about 20+ times over the years. Why is ignoring another genre 'not appropriate?' Just because you think it's crappy/useless doesn't mean they are Hmm

QuestionableMouse · 12/08/2016 11:40

Many of the classics have more violence in them than the books you've listed!

LilacSpunkMonkey · 12/08/2016 11:40

Oh, so much nonsense in your OP that I'd be here all day with it!

I shall sum up instead with - don't be a pillock, mate.

Chinks123 · 12/08/2016 11:40

Also there is zero chance it is Harry Potter that is making him aggressive..

JudyCoolibar · 12/08/2016 11:40

I'd be delighted if my son loved reading this much. I suspect the only reason he appears aggressive is because you make such a big issue of it. I'd suggest you leave it strictly alone at the moment: if he gets in trouble because he's reading instead of doing homework he will probably work out quickly enough that he needs to strike a balance.

WhirlwindHugs · 12/08/2016 11:43

Don't be daft. It's not children's books to blame here. Stop restricting them and start talking with him about whatever is actually on his mind.

At 10 he might be worried about puberty? friends? family issues? He probably finds rereading the same books reassuring.

TheOptimisticPessimist · 12/08/2016 11:48

Please tell me you're joking? You want to restrict your son's passion for reading by taking away the incredibly imaginative, detailed and entertaining books that he adores and forcing him to read 'classicals' instead?

He's 10! All you'll end up doing is make reading feel like a chore to him. You can't force someone to enjoy certain genres and not should you try.

Reading these books isn't making him aggressive. The fact you're threatening to take away something he loves is making him act up, and I'm not surprised. If his studies are suffering then he needs a lesson on time management, not a total ban on his books.

Give your head a wobble, quit being such an interfering book snob, and realise that parents all over the world would LOVE for their child to have such a passion for reading, regardless of what genre it is. It's a trait that should be encouraged and nurtured, not eradicated because you don't think the (perfectly age appropriate and wonderful) books are worthy enough.

fruityb · 12/08/2016 11:50

Classics at ten? Let him enjoy this stuff instead! My mum tried to get me readin Black Beauty and Pride and Prejudice when I was too young and I couldn't tell you a thing about them and I hated reading them. I teach English and still haven't read a lot of them as I don't see the need to even now.

I'd be more excited about feeding this love of reading and looking to expand his range there.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 12/08/2016 11:54

I teach English at a highly successful secondary, I'm currently re-reading Harry Potter. Again. Nothing wrong with Harry Potter.
'Classics' can be difficult to get into due to changes in language use. Being forced to read things kills the enjoyment. I hated Dickens until university and didn't really like Shakespeare until my PGCE.

Original poster
mom17 · 12/08/2016 12:00

I am really thankful to all your post which have made me realize I was wrong. I just thought it is a parent's duty to develop interest in all genre so that they are not left out. I often see that initial phase for any new thing is not interesting hence I was trying to force him to try classical thinking he soon will like those. He liked Oliver twist, black beauty, white fang, thief lord etc. but kidnapped, lord of flies etc were left after half or so.

OP posts:
GinIsIn · 12/08/2016 12:04

The most important thing for any child to learn is that reading should be a pleasure and not a chore. It doesn't matter what you think he SHOULD read, stop spooling it for him or you will put him off it altogether! Hmm

GinIsIn · 12/08/2016 12:04

Spoiling it, even

DoctorDonnaNoble · 12/08/2016 12:06

Lord of the Flies is a GCSE book. At 10 he is really too young to appreciate it. Also, 50 years ago it wasn't a classic, now it is. Dickens wrote stories that were the equivalent of soap operas. Time is the only thing that makes something a 'classic' many modern books are just as good.

Original poster
mom17 · 12/08/2016 12:10

thats what he says, mamma -HP, PJ etc are liked so much by children that they will also become classical. It was after his question why those books are called classical and I told they have been liked by people so much over this period and still loved.

OP posts:
DelphiniumBlue · 12/08/2016 12:15

You sound very controlling. And by your own admission you haven't even read the books you are criticizing.
Let him read these inoffensive books, they are great stories, and Artemis Fowl in particular is very well written.
At 10, he is quite young to fully understand some of the books you want him to read, by himself. What books do you read to/ with him?
I'm assuming from your post that English is not your first language- are you able to support him with reading out loud and discussion/ explanations? Because I don't think he will benefit from being pushed to read classics without adequate support in place.
And if you are concerned about violence, some of the books you are pushing at him to read are very violent indeed ( murder,rape, prostitution etc).
I would wait till he is older- some of these books will be covered at secondary
School anyway - I think Lord of the Flies is on the GCSE curriculum.

SisterViktorine · 12/08/2016 12:18

Well, I will agree with you OP. I think it would be good for your DS to read a wider range of genres and styles. I teach upper KS2- mainly boys. Immersion in really great children's literature is usually the best thing you can do to improve a child's writing at that stage.

Do you read to him still? If he would let you, you could go back to reading him novels he wouldn't particularly want to read himself in the evenings. Or how about audio books? You could listen together.

Whilst I agree with you that broadening his interests would be valuable, it's not worth damaging his relationship with you over.

SisterViktorine · 12/08/2016 12:19

Oh, I doubt it's the books making him aggressive btw.

VioletBam · 12/08/2016 12:22

My DD is 12 and unfortunately has outgrown children's literature. She began buying books from charity shops in our town...she goes on Saturdays.

Her last obsession was The Shining.

A couple of years ago she was loving everything by Jacqueline Wilson.

Oh how I long for that! I'm sat here worrying about whether I'm wrong to allow her to choose her own books...sometimes I think I am wrong...then other times I think "How can I sensor her reading matter?"

She goes in phases...M. R. James one night and the next it's Alice in Wonderland or Little Women.

Then back to good old Stephen King.

Chill out.

SisterViktorine · 12/08/2016 12:23

Also, I agree with PP that some of the books you think would be ideal are too old/ challenging for him. Maybe have a look at the '100 books every child should read in Primary school' type lists to find examples of great children's literature ideal for a 10 year old.

Original poster
mom17 · 12/08/2016 12:28

DelphiniumBlue, you are right, English is not my first language but for DS, it is kind of his first language ( not that good in our native language). I don't discuss any book with him as such, primarily because I am not equipped to handle it ( will need homework for me first) or because of lack of time ( I am working). sorry, wasn't aware of "murder,rape, prostitution etc" contents in any of books I wanted him to read , please tell me which one you are talking about. I do give him books after reading reviews on commonsensemedia.

OP posts:
roseteapot101 · 12/08/2016 12:35

if you want him to do well at school work instead of taking away something highly educational .Encourage him if he does really well at his school work he will get a new book

you have found something he truly loves use that to your advantage

i suggest books by terry pratchett his books are very good for a developing teenager mind

if He scores well on a big test reward him with a book use them as a reward for good school work