Rader just finished reading Christopher Moore’s YOU SUCK. (this has been on my TBR pile for a while, but I don’t like reading vampire novels while I’m writing one, so it’s still sitting there) Most of you know that Rader is only 10, but he is reading FAR above his reading level. If we made him read ‘age appropriate’ books, he’d never read. He’s also really mature for a 10 year old. Having a brother 4 years older helps.

So he gets to read whatever he wants as long as he:

1. Doesn’t repeat the naughty words
2. Doesn’t discuss the naughty topics with his friends.

Easy rules and he is really good at following them.

He’s a big fan of Sci-Fi. He loves Tim Waggoner and he loves anything dragon. I’ve been trying to get him to try something new so I finally gave him YOU SUCK and said, “Read this. It’s supposed to be very funny. It’s an adult book so remember the rules and if you read something that’s confusing or that makes you uncomfortable, you have to tell me.”

The next day, be the end of school, he was finished with the book. (seriously, the boy is a voracious reader)

Me: So, was there anything too adult in there or that you didn’t understand?
Rader: No. But you couldn’t turn a page without seeing the ‘F’ word. And I know the rules Mom! I won’t say them and I won’t tell my friends about them either.
Me: (smiling) I know you won’t. What about other stuff? You know, ADULT situations that might have been confusing. (didn’t wanna say sex because I wanted him to tell me)
Rader: Oh I wasn’t confused, but there was some hot monkey love.

Guess all those chats about Hot Monkey Love have paid off.

He’s reading TWILIGHT now because he’s intrigued by the movie trailer.