12year old boy refuses to read

[Croissandelune]

Hi, DS refuses to read. He can read but has decided that it's boring and doesn't want to do it. The problem I'm hitting is homework. He was given a chapter to read last week and he did not want to. I'm trying to talk to him but the response is I'm not doing it. Is this a matter of make consequences clear and follow them through (because it's homework) or is this going to make the non-reading situation worse (although it's difficult to see how it could get worse as reading time is currently zero)?
Please don't tell me to try all the positive encouragement tips (let him choose what to read, read with him, graphic novels etc). These require a modicum of cooperation/willingness that my son does not have.
(And if you're only going to say that I should have control over my child or similar comments, you know where to go)
Thanks!

@Needmorelego you and I think alike.

I don't mind reading for information, and spend a crazy amount of time faffing on here. But I really struggle to get into books

I wasn't joking about being able to read Biff and Chip but being switched off from it, and have to go back and look for the answers to the questions.

All through school that was my tactic read the questions then look for the answers.

Yes someone could possibly force me to get to the end of the Hobbit but there is zero point in reading if your switched off from it.

I wouldn't go nuclear on him and force him to read war and peace or whatever

I'd do accidentally reading, like cereal boxes, crosswords etc etc

My own loves cars, so he reads car guides

It's still reading

You need to make sure your son really can read, and if so, at what level.
How is his comprehension?
Does he find word problems easy or difficult in maths?

He may have a language processing disorder that makes reading pointless or much more difficult than you might think, even if he may be decoding well.
I agree with posters suggesting an eyesight problem too.

Lots of children of that age go off reading for a while. As his reading comprehension is average there will be a decent amount in each page that he isn’t understanding, that ramps up as a book goes on. Most of us wouldn’t continue a book if by the time we’re halfway through we only understand about 2/3 of whats going on.

Another one here wondering if there's something making reading more difficult. My DS can read but has Irlen Syndrome, which affects the brain's ability to process print on white pages. A simple test would be to print onto different coloured pages and see if that makes any difference.

I personally wouldn’t allow other forms of entertainment until he reads. Nothing.

That sounds ridiculously harsh.
Homework needs to be done (with a parent helping by reading if needs be) but why should he be denied things he enjoys doing (sport, art, Lego, whatever..) because he doesn't want to read a copy of Wimpy Kid.
How to make a 12 year hate books completely plus also hate his parents.

Well thanks for this thread @Croissandelune we also have a 12 year old DS who will not read unless it’s unavoidable. We are ok on homework at the moment but he is not excelling academically and I am starting to feel I need to explore dyslexia or another challenge . I really recognise what other posters are saying that it’s not rewarding if you struggle and his comprehension isn’t brilliant , I don’t know if that’s because he needs to read more or whether that’s what puts him off.
I have tried absolutely everything over the years and spent so much money on books that were never read.
solidarity with others in the same boat .