The Reluctant Book Worm

Anyone who knows Addison know that he is a reader.  He's not just a kid who likes to read... he reads rapidly, and I do not think that he processes written language in the same way that I do.  I don't know if he actually reads left to right... it is more like a full page absorption, with an amazingly high comprehension and retention.  He soaks it up like a sponge in a speedboat.

Over the summer, Addison read his textbooks for the upcoming year.  He also read four other years of history texts.  Specifically, he read "The Story of the World", which is a homeschool curriculum that begins with the first civilizations in volume 1 and provides a detailed chronological "story" of the history of the world, ending with modern times (through 9/11) in volume 4.  He read all 4 volumes... in less than 2 months.  Now, when anyone mentions any history topic, he has an interesting bit of information to add, because he read it.  When we went to Inman Farm Heritage Days and learned about moonshine stills, he informed us about prohibition and the problems that it caused.


(I have to tell a side story about Addison.  One day last week, my boys were riding home with a very good friend.  They were all talking in the van about what they would wish for if they had 3 wishes.  Their friend had some very good wishes, and the last one was "for more wishes", as any good hypothetical wish story would go.  Asa's first wish was that his friend Matthew, who moved away after last school year, would move back.  His next was a typical child wish of some flavor.  And, of course, his last was "for more wishes".  Addison's wishes were for everyone who needs a house to have a house, for everyone who needs food to have food to eat, and for the problem of our national debt to be solved.  That's my Addison.)

Now, Asa will read a book, but he sure doesn't like to.  I believe I have found a couple of books over the years that he really loves.  But, it is not easy.  One that he really fell in love with was "Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, & a Very Strange Adventure".  I have been trying to find similar books that he would actually want to read, but to no avail.  Honestly, he is a normal, typical 9 year old boy.  He just happens to have a very academic brother, and twin to boot.  I do not compare, nor do I expect them to be the same.  They haven't been similar in many ways since birth!  Expecting Asa to love reading just because Addison does would be just like me assuming Addison should be able to take duct tape, chicken wire, a penny, string, and a paper towel roll, and make some kind of contraption that fries an egg.  Physics, engineering, and contraptions... those are Asa's passions.  However, as his mother and teacher, it is my job to get him to read more!

Tonight, I told him that he had to find something to read... and it couldn't be Calvin and Hobbes.  My three suggestions for books were busts, but Addison said that he had read one that he thought Asa might like.  It was a decent sized book, but not "big".  The cover had a crazy monster creature with sharp teeth, and the title was "The Reef of Death".  Yes, Addison, I believe you nailed it.

I got this book a while back in a pile of used books for young readers.  Addison had read it when his book pile ran dry.  It wasn't really his thing.  But, Asa picked it up and read for over 2 hours.  At 11:15pm, he came out of his room and insisted that I read 4 pages that were "really good".  "Really good" was debatable, but what was wonderful was his love for reading.

And so, I hit Amazon and ordered 6 used books by the authors of Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms and The Reef of Death.  The other Paul Zindel books were similar monster/adventure books, and Lissa Evans has other books with Horten as the main character.  I am crossing my fingers that these will fan the flames for him!  He doesn't have to want to read academic journals in his spare time, but he does need to try to learn to read for fun!