Setting: Bookstore to choose a book for summer reading from a teacher’s list.

“Hi! My son’s not a reader. Can you help me find something off this list?”

“Sure. Let’s see the list.”

It’s a terrible list. It’s old - like it’s been used 40+ years old. Nine of the main characters are girls. There is no need to ask the typical next question (What kinds of things does your son like?), because it won’t be on this list at all.

Two of the books are out of print, but can be found used. Two of the books are out of print and I can’t find them even used. That leaves six.

I choose the shortest, the one with animals, and the one with a trip (I’ll call it an adventure.). At this point I meet the non-reading son.

This non-reader is looking through a 300-400 page book on the history of submarines. He looks up and asks his mom if he can get it. She says no.

I ask if he likes to read about submarines. His mom says, “ He loves all those books about World War II, the military, and all. He owns the ones [books in the same series] on the helicopters, fighter jets, and tanks. He’s read them all several times.”

“So, you like non-fiction reading.” I look at the boy and hold out the three books saying, “They’re all boring, but this is the shortest. This one has a trip, which makes it a little more interesting, and this one has animals, but they don’t really do anything.”

His mother looks startled and appalled at me. He smiles and takes one.

He looks at his mom. “Can I get this one on submarines, when I finish my summer reading?”

His mom agrees and he says to me, “See you Friday!”

****

This boy was a reader! This was not the only time I encountered this “not a reader” label with kids who loved huge, non-fiction books.

If a child reads, they are a reader - fiction or non-fiction - doesn’t matter.

Also, be honest - they’ll never trust you, if you tell them it’s exciting and it’s really boring!